“Guys, that championship DNA that we talked about, that I know we have, it just needs to come out. I want you to have fun,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn a few minutes before kickoff.
“I’m unbelievably honored to be your head coach in this moment. We worked our butts off to get to this moment. I truly believe we’re going to play our best football game today.
“There’s gonna be some ups and downs. Hang in there. Leaders lead. Now let’s go whip these guys.”
A grand stage certainly had been set:
--The game had been sold out since June.
--The Big 12 commissioner, Brett Yormark, had come to town for UCF’s Big 12 homefield coming-out event.
--Former coach George O’Leary and dozens of his players from the 2013 UCF team that defeated Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl were in the stadium, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of that landmark postseason success.
The Knights early on certainly followed the script:
--Richardson’s early run marked the longest of his career by 29 yards as UCF scored on its first play for the first time since 2009.
--Javon Baker’s 65-yard TD reception marked the longest play of his career—as the home team chalked up 201 offensive yards in the first period.
--The defense got into the act early in the second quarter, with Demari Henderson returning a fumble 87 yards for a score.
UCF forced punts on Baylor’s first three possessions—with the first two of those encompassing three-and-outs.
At halftime, there seemed no reason for alarm.
“We’re in a good spot right now, “ said Malzahn, “But it’s zero-zero. Let’s make sure we go out there and finish these guys off.
“There may be some ups and downs. So what? Hang in there, championship DNA, let’s finish this thing off.”
The way the Knights came out for the second half suggested they understood how to make it all work. They bled nearly seven minutes off the clock, ran 14 plays, drove 84 yards and seemed to drive a knife into the hearts of Baylor fans with any hope for victory in Orlando.
From there the script fell apart.
At one point in the game, UCF led 196-2 in total yards. The Knights rolled up those 201 yards in the first period on only 11 plays. Baylor had all of 11 rushing yards in the opening quarter.
And it could have been even more disturbing for the Bears. In the second period, UCF drove to the Baylor two, had a TD called back by penalty and then had a field-goal attempt blocked.
But as the second half wore on, all that faded in terms of relevance.
Offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw suggested at halftime that if the Knights took care of the football in the final two periods they would win the game. He probably was correct. But UCF didn't do that.
After a third-period Baylor field goal, UCF (leading by 25 points) moved 44 yards to the Bears’ 29, only to see McClain throw an interception.
Still clinging to a nine-point lead the Knights reached the Baylor 24, only to see a fumble turn into a 72-yard TD return for the visitors. With 6:02 left it was a two-point game.
An illegal forward pass penalty thwarted UCF’s next possession, and the Knights had to punt.
Baylor then methodically marched 61 yards –helped by a 36-yard completion to the UCF 15—and took its first lead with 1:21 to go.
McClain completed a game-saving, fourth-down throw to RJ Harvey after a mad scramble near his own goal line. But six more plays only advanced the Knights to the Baylor 41. The magic ran out when Colton Boomer came up short from 59 yards.
UCF’s final five possessions covered a combined 131 yards. Baylor scored on all four of its second-half possessions, not including the fumble return.
