ORLANDO, Fla. – Baylor’s 36-35 victory over UCF in its Big XII Conference home opener was a tough loss for the Knights in a game that they appeared to have in hand, leading 35-7 midway through the third quarter.
“We gotta find a way to put this away,” said UCF head coach Gus Malzahn. “We have a lot of champions in that locker room and I am sure that we will do that.”
UCF took that 35-7 lead with 8:08 left to play in the third quarter when quarterback Timmy McClain capped a 14-play, 84-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Townsend.
This marked an absolutely dominating performance by Malzahn’s squad over the first two and a half quarters. It created the idea that the Knights could be a player in the Big XII race.
UCF started the game with an 80-yard touchdown run by Johnny Richardson for a 7-0 lead with 13:13 remaining in the first quarter.
The Knights scored on the first three drives with McClain capping a six-play drive with a two-yard run. Then, he hit Javon Baker on a 65-yard deep post pattern on the second play of the third drive.
At that point, the Knights looked to be in complete control and would validate to the Big XII and college football that their addition into the new league was a solid entrance.
The 35-7 lead midway through the quarter solidified this idea as McClain was doing a stellar job with leadership and his level of play.
“It’s a tough loss and one that everybody sees that got away,” summarized Malzahn. “I think everybody sees that and knows that.”
Bears Facts: There were wholesale changes made on both sides of the football by Baylor. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes filled the Bears’ rushes between the tackles with Richard Reese and Dominic Richardson.
Quarterback Blake Shapen took control of the game as he orchestrated a 10-play drive that saw a seven-yard run by Isaiah Pendergrass and also a two-yard TD throw to tight end Jordan Nabors.
Both of those two-point conversions were good as the Knights led only 35-26 with 9:38 left in the game.
“This allows you to do your job, to be the best of your ability and I think it shows up,” said Baylor head coach Dave Aranda.
Shapen passed for 293 yards as he completed 21-of-34 passes and hit Monaray Baldwin seven times for 150 yards. They connected on a 35-yard pass play that allowed Baldwin to use his speed to break two tackles on a quick flat pass to the left.
“We’ve got to try to make something happen,” said Baldwin. “All we care about is winning and all we care about is each other.”
An impractical Ending: Hankins’ 25-yard field goal with 3:25 would cap the largest comeback in Baylor history in erasing a 28-point deficit.
The Bears scored 29 points in the fourth quarter to erase the 28-point deficit.
Baylor was able to play the same “cards” as UCF.
The Knights seemed to have locked the game when an 86-yard fumble was returned for a touchdown by cornerback Ja’Cari Henderson.
Baylor scored on the next five drives to take the 36-35 lead as Caden Jenkins went 72 yards with a fumble return which cut the Knights’ lead to 35-33 with 6:02 left in the fourth quarter.
“They had that scoop and score and they never did lose the momentum,” said Malzahn.
One Last Shot: After Hankins’ 25-yard field goal that would spell the victory for the Bears, McClain and the Knights had one last opportunity.
He was able to keep this drive alive on a 4th-and-6 at the 30-yard line when he rolled out and was chased left and then he recovered and rolled back into his own end zone.
He threw a 46-yard pass that registered for 16 yards. RJ Harvey made the catch and gave Baylor a first down before Colton Boomer missed a 59-yard field goal on the game’s last play.
“Timmy made a really good play in the end zone – the scramble play,” said Malzahn. “We were trying to get it a little closer and Boomer had to kick the desperation deal and we just didn’t get it done.”
