Running back Myles Montgomery was a consistent force throughout the night, totaling 150 yards with 79 rushing yards on 21 carries while adding 71 through the air on three catches. His ability to extend drives and break off chunk plays helped UCF stay in control of the possession for most of the game.
After both teams traded early field goals, Jacksonville State found the end zone for the first time on a 10-yard rush by Andrew Paul with 12:01 left in the game.
UCF immediately responded, however, when Jackson connected with Dylan Wade on a 40-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass in with 9:30 left to tie the game at 10-10. Jackson found Wade all alone over the middle after sneaking out from his tight end position and darted down the right side for UCF's first TD of the season.
Then with just under 2 minutes to go and JSU driving into UCF territory, defensive back Jayden Williams stuffed Gamecock's running back Cam Cook on a fourth-down, hurry-up play to turn the ball over on downs to the Knights.
"Jayden got a game ball," Frost said. "He's one of a number of new guys around here, but he's played a lot of football and is very savvy. When they handed it off it looked liked they dented our line a little and I thought it was a first down ... but he just shot in there and knifed and that was probably the biggest play of the game."
Then, starting at their own 36-yard line, UCF marched 64 yards in six plays to take the lead late and seal the win. After two incompletions, Jackson took off on a 15-yard scramble on third down to the JSU 34-yard line. Then, when many thought UCF would play it safe and inch closer for a go-ahead field goal on 3rd and 9, Jackson hit wide receiver DJ Black on a naked bootleg in stride over the middle for a 33-yard score and the lead with just over a minute remaining.
"We were sitting there and kinda said, 'let's win this thing'," Frost said. "I think a lot of people were probably expecting us to call something and kick a field goal. But we still had a couple bullets in the chamber, and we hit one."
"It was a great play call by Coach Frost," Black said. "The offensive line held up real well. D Wade made a good block on the edge and Tayven threw me a great ball and it landed right in the pocket."
The UCF defense held strong the rest of the way, limiting big plays and forcing a key fourth-down stop late in the fourth quarter.
The win marked the 300th in program history and extended UCF’s streak to 10 straight opening game victories. It also marked the Knights’ 11th consecutive Thursday night win, the third most such wins in all of FBS history.
Frost’s season-opening win was his 20th career victory with the Knights and extended his winning streak to 14 games in Black and Gold.
