NDL: S32W3 - TCU (52) at UCF (55)
Carman returns with a win for UCF
Article By: Alternate title: Knights win a 107 point defensive (ish) battle that went to double OT.
There were 6 turnovers, and 4 defensive TDs. That might be the stat line of the game.
The Knights started out with the ball, and scored via a RJ Harvey rush. The Knights rushing attack utilized 3 rushers who all had 7-12 carries, and 37-68 yards. Or, 30 rushes for 176 yards and 2 TDs (3 including Jefferson's sneak). Harvey had 12/68, 1 TD. The Horned Frogs then scored on their next drive, a pass from Josh Hoover (24/30 for 390 yards, 6 TD, 3 INT) to Savion Williams (2/53, 2 TDs).
The Knights scored on their next drive with a Johnny Richardson 14 yard rush (7/37, 1 TD). And TCU answered with a pass to RB (Receiving Back) Jeremy Payne (3/136, 3TD, and 2 rushes for 9 yards)., to make it 14-14.
The tit for tat of the offenses was then traded for some defensive highlights. LaMareon James intercepted Jefferson for a TD (his first of 2 INTs) on a pass intended for Ja'Varrius 'Leon' Johnson. Leon finished with 1 catch for 15 yards, and had a relatively quiet night (Coach Carman and Jefferson lost a little confidence in him). Apparently he expected his teammates to catch the ball, even though he was the only one on his good side of the field...but, hey, at least he didn't volleyball the ball up for an INT, like so many of Blake Bortles WRs did in Jacksonville.
But, I digress. It's UCF now has the ball, with TCU up 21-14. UCF then had it's only punt after a botched/sacked screen play resulted in a sack. P Mitch McCarthy is putting his name in the hat for the Big XII punter of the year, which is a position Coach Carman has been most likely to get a conference award for, with a 55 yard/net punt.
2 plays later Hoover was picked off by UCF's Antoine Jackson for a TD with 2:25 to go, to kmake the score 21-21. Jackson finished with 1 INT, 2 PD, 2 tackles, 1 TFL.
TCU then 10 yard drive for 59 yards with a pass to JP Richardson (6/51/1 TD) with 19 seconds before the half. UCF would run the ball 2x to close out the half, with TCU up 28-21.
TCU go the ball to start the 2nd half, but the lowest scoring quarter was upon us. 1 TCU punt, 1 UCF interception (2nd by LaMarion James), a 21 yard FB by TCU's Kyle Lemmermann (31-21 TCU), then a drive by UCF that continued for another 6 seconds in the 4th quarter.
This sets us up for a 38 point 4th quarter barnburner. Including the 2OT, 49 points were scored after the end of the 3rd (and 'only' 58 points were scored in the first 3 quarters).
KJ Jefferson hit a wide open Randy Pittman (7/155/1 TD), for 28 yards. 34 seconds later, Jeremy Payne catches a 61 yarder from Hoover for TCU (31-21 to TCU). UCF then has a drive stall at the TCU 30, on 4th and 9, and Colton Boomer (2/2 FG) a Lake Mary High School grad (as is Coach Carman) cuts it to 7 (31-24).
4 plays later...and Hoover is sacked by Nyjalik Kelly, who also forces the fumble, and after a half second celebration recovers the fumble, and takes it back for 30 something yards, and he long jumps 7.55 yards into the endzone to celebrate (the world record is 9.788 yards, held by Mike Powel). The coaches afterwards agreed this was perhaps the play of the game, as it could have been a TD the other way without the sack.
This ties the game up at 38 a piece, with 3:25 to go.
6 seconds later, UCF gets it's 2nd defensive TD in as many plays. Sheldon Arnold (4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD) hoovered up a Hoover pass, which gave UCF it's first lead since 6 mins to go in the 2nd quarter.
TCU then takes 9 plays and 2:40 off the clock, for a Hoover pass to Savion Williams with :45 to go.
UCF drove for 29 yards, but understood a pick or fumble 6 could be the end of the game, and they should live to drive another drive in OT.
Tied 45-45, TCU wins the toss and defers. UCF drives for 6 plays, stalling at the 1 yard line, and line up for a FG...which gives a clear advantage to TCU. As Boomer lines up for the kick, Coach Carman decides to call a TO. He sends Jefferson back in, who sneaks it in and gives UCF a lifeline.
Hoover then takes 2 plays to tie it up at 52 a piece (Jeremy Payne for his 3rd TD).
TCU's 2nd OT period starts off well, with a 16 yard pass. Then Hoover gets sacked for 5 yards to the UCF 14. Demari Henderson then picks off Hoover's pass, and returns it for 5-10-15 and 25 yards. He didn't go all the way, but his heads up play helped out immensely. He finished with 6 solo, 10 total tackles (UCF's leading tackler), and 1 INT.
UCF then rides 2 Peny Boone rushes down the middle to the TCU 13 yard-line, and Boomer attempts a FG on first down from the TCU 13 for 30 yards....and splits the uprights. UCF wins! 55-52 is the final score, in a thrilling return to action for UCF, which is reuinted with class of '03 grad Coach Carman.
Coach VickTim was unlucky to not come away with a win, but what a game it was. And fun on the mic, too!
KJ Jefferson was used as the starter for this one, though he did have 1 TD and 2 INTs (and 1 rushing). He's on a short leash, which probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. That being said, he only had 6 balls that weren't caught (cough, by either team.
Shoutout to the player with the most pancakes of the game, UCF's TE2 Evan Morris (5 pancakes, 2 Rec, 20 yards, including a crucial 3rd down/18 yard catch in the endzone to set up Jefferson's run).
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