ORLANDO, Fla. — The University of Central Florida Knights eked out a literal last-minute 21-20 victory against the Marshall Thundering Herd in front of an announced crowd of 35,676 at Bright House Networks Stadium in a crucial Conference USA match-up Sunday night.
“It wasn’t pretty but it’s a good win, a good team win. It’s a 60-minute game for a reason," said UCF head coach George O'Leary. “Anytime you get a win against a 5-3 football team, I think it’s a good win. It’s a good conference win.”
The Knights struggled offensively through three quarters of play and trailed 20-7 going into the fourth quarter, but a late Brynn Harvey rushing touchdown and a touchdown pass from Brett Hodges to Rocky Ross with just 23 seconds left in the game propelled UCF to victory over their division rival.The fourth quarter rally began when UCF took possession with 10:16 left in the game on Marshall's 43. Hodges connected with Ricky Kay for 16 yards and a Harvey run for three yards brough UCF to the 24.
Two incomplete passes later and the Knights were looking at 4th and 7. Hodges threw a 21-yard pass to Ross, putting UCF on Marshall's 3. Two plays later, Harvey's run and a Nick Cattoi extra point brought the Knights to within six of Marshall with 7:45 left to play.
The Knights' defense forced a Marshall three-and-out and, following a Kase Whitehead punt for 50 yards, UCF took over on their own 33.
UCF again faced a fourth down situation seven plays later, this time from Marshall's 18. Hodges' pass to receiver A.J. Guyton fell incomplete, however, and Marshall took over on downs.
Darius Marshall ran for four yards and an offisdes penalty against UCF moved Marshall to second and 1. Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson called his own number and rushed for two yards, but UCF defensive end Bruce Miller ripped the ball from Anderson's hands and cornerback Josh Robinson fell on it, giving UCF a first and 10 on Marshall's 30.
Miller also recorded 2.5 sacks in the game and earned C-USA defensive player of the week.
“He’s like every good pass rusher: they’re always great second effort players," O'Leary said about Miller. "He was on the sideline saying ‘Just hold him up, I’ll get it out,’ and he did.”
"Somebody just had to make a play and fortunately I was in a position where I could get the ball out, and that is what happened," Miller said.
From third and 10 on Marshall's 20, Hodges completed a 19-yard pass to Kamar Aiken. The next play was Ross' one yard reception to tie the game at 20. Cattoi's extra point was the go-ahead score.
“I was worried about running [the ball], not making it, and then clock, clock, clock. We had no timeouts left. You say we should have time to run another play, but it would have been hurried. They didn’t even cover [Ross]. There was no one on him," O'Leary said.
"It was a little play action sprint play," Hodges said. "I walked up to the line at first and nobody was guarding [Ross]. It confused me a little bit and I was wondering if they were tricking me. We sent A.J. [Guyton] in motion and [Ross] was still open so I just put a nice little touch pass out there for him."
Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter. Marshall struck first with a seven play, 91 yard drive capped off by an Anderson pass to Cody Slate for four yards.
UCF was able to respond on their next drive, an eight play, 72-yarder capped by a four yard Hodges pass to Aiken. Cattoi's extra point tied the game at 7 all with 7:51 left in the first half.
Marshall (5-4, 3-2 C-USA) regained the lead following their next possession as kicker Cra Ratanamorn scored a field goal from 30 yards.
The Herd scored a second touchdown in the second quarter as Marshall ran into the end zone from three yards out, giving the Herd a 10 point advantage going into halftime.
Ratanamorn kicked a second field goal with 3:25 left in the third quarter, following a nine play, 32 yard drive.
UCF's (5-3, 3-2 C-USA) next game is Nov. 7 when the Knights travel to No. 2 Texas (8-0, 5-0 Big 12).
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