ORLANDO — It wasn’t easy, and at times it wasn’t pretty, but Scott Frost’s second stint as UCF head coach began in victorious fashion as the Knights clawed their way to a 17-10 win over Jacksonville State on Thursday night at Acrisure Bounce House.
The deciding moment came with just 1:03 left in the game. Quarterback Tayven Jackson, pressed into action following an early injury to starter Cam Fancher, delivered a strike down the middle to DJ Black for a 33-yard touchdown, the go-ahead score in a game that had been deadlocked for much of the night.
Jackson, who completed 17 of 24 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, played nearly the entire game after Fancher left early in the second quarter following a violent hit by JSU defensive back (and UCF transfer) Tre’quon Fegans, a play that was overturned due to targeting. Fancher was ruled out for the remainder of the game and was later seen in street clothes on the sideline.
Weather delay
Just as UCF was looking to find some rhythm, the skies opened up. A lightning delay lasting 2 hours and 7 minutes sent both teams to the locker room midway through the second quarter, stretching the total game time to well over five hours.
When the teams returned to the field, Fancher did not, and Jackson was tasked with sparking a sluggish offense that had yet to score.
Neither team found the end zone in the first half, trading punts and defensive stands. UCF finally got on the board midway through the third quarter on a 24-yard field goal by Noe Ruelas, but the Gamecocks responded quickly. A 10-yard touchdown run by Andrew Paul gave Jacksonville State a 10-3 lead early in the fourth.
Knights deliver in the clutch
Facing their first deficit, the Knights answered immediately. Jackson connected with tight end Dylan Wade on a short pass in the flat, and Wade did the rest, breaking a tackle and rumbling 39 yards to tie the game at 10-10 with 9:30 remaining.
Jacksonville State threatened again, driving into UCF territory late, but on 4th-and-1, safety Jayden Williams shot into the backfield and stuffed Caden Creel for no gain, arguably the play of the night on defense.
From there, Jackson led UCF on a seven-play, 72-yard game-winning drive capped off by the touchdown to Black. On JSU’s final possession, cornerback Jayden Bellamy sealed the win with an interception in the closing seconds.
QB controversy?
Fancher, who won the three-man quarterback competition coming out of camp, got the start but exited after completing 5 of 9 passes for 32 yards.
Frost said the quarterback situation will be reassessed next week depending on Fancher’s health. Jackson certainly made his case to remain in the mix.
Top UCF Performers
Offense
- Tayven Jackson (QB)
- 17-of-24 passing (71%)
- 282 yards, 2 TDs
- Long: 64 yards
- Led three scoring drives and orchestrated the game-winning TD
- Myles Montgomery (RB)
- 21 carries, 79 yards (3.8 avg)
- 3 catches, 71 receiving yards (led team in all-purpose yards with 150)
- 64-yard catch-and-run set up a red zone scoring chance
- DJ Black (WR)
- 3 catches, 59 yards
- 33-yard game-winning touchdown with 1:03 left
- Dylan Wade (TE)
- 4 catches, 54 yards
- 39-yard touchdown reception to tie the game in the fourth quarter
- Marcus Burke (WR)
- 3 catches, 43 yards
Defense
- Lewis Carter (LB)
- Team-high 9 tackles (4 solo, 5 assist)
- Anchored the middle and helped contain JSU’s rushing attack
- Phillip Dunnam (S)
- 8 total tackles
- 1 tackle for loss
- Jayden Williams (S)
- 5 tackles
- 4th-and-1 stop in the fourth quarter to set up UCF’s game-winning drive
- Earned the game ball
- Jayden Bellamy (CB)
- Interception on JSU’s final drive
- 4 total tackles and a pass breakup
- Horace Lockett (DL)
- 4 tackles
- 1 sack for 9 yards, provided interior disruption
- Rodney Lora (DL)
- 2 tackles
- 1 sack for 5 yards
- Keli Lawson (LB)
- Blocked a 35-yard field goal just before halftime