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| Getty Images |
This game was featuring 2 teams who were making their very first and subsequently their last BCS Bowl game because of the college playoff system that will be starting next season.
The Baylor Bears were 17 point favorites going into this game and the leading scorer in the entire nation, averaging just over 53 points per game. That didn't intimidate UCF or its QB Blake Bortles who would win the offensive MVP of the game award. Bortles played a great game and showed just why he is considered a top 3 QB if he enters this years draft, even though most people are unaware of who the guy even is. Bortles would end his night throwing 20-for-31 and 301 yards, throwing 3 TD's and rushed for another TD.
The entire UCF Knight's football team seemed to have one thing on their mind and that was to prove a point to anybody watching that they were a better football team than anyone gave them credit for. The offensive line for the Knights played outstanding, not giving up a single sack all game as well as helping the offense tally up over 250 yards on the ground. RB Storm Johnson was the lead back and got off to a hot start, scoring 2 TD's in the first 7 minutes of the game. Johnson would end his day with 20 rushes for 124 yards and 3 TD's, his 3rd TD came late in the 4th quarter that all but sealed the deal for UCF.
Baylor on the other hand seemed to allow the Knights to do as they pleased on offense, giving up over 550 yards of total offense. UCF WR Rannell Hall exploded on just 4 receptions, gaining 113 yards and 2 TD's. Both TD's came on a quick screen throw followed by outstanding blocking all the way down the field.
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| Ryan Gillespie |
Final Score:
#15 UCF over #6 BAY 52-42
This was the highest scoring Fiesta Bowl game, amassing 94 points combined, which is also enough for the 2nd highest scoring BCS Bowl game (the highest scoring BCS Bowl game was between West Virginia and Clemson in the 2012 Orange Bowl, combined total of 103 points). Just to give you a perspective of the scoring that took place in the Fiesta Bowl, the lowest scoring quarter came in the 3rd where there was 13 points scored combined. The 4th qtr was the highest scoring with 31 points put on the board in that quarter alone. Baylor was able to finally tie the game with 28 a-piece after a successful TD and 2-point conversion, both run in by Baylor QB Bryce Petty but the Knights would respond by scoring on 4 straight drives following the tie.
Petty played a great game himself, going 30-for-47 for 356 yards and throwing for 2 TD's while running for 3 TD's, including an acrobatic full front flip towards the end of the 1st half.
UCF coach George O'Leary has resurrected his career after his Notre Dame fallout where he lied about some of his accomplishments on his resume and was forced to resign only 5 days after being hired. O'Leary has made the most of his 2nd chance and has brought a little school out of Central Florida to the masses.
Baylor coach Art Briles is also in the limelight after the Fiesta Bowl. It is a big rumor that he is a top candidate for the recently opened coaching position for the Washington Redskins and his former QB Robert Griffin III. Briles has stated that entering the NFL does intrigue him if for nothing else than to show that his offensive scheme would work on the professional level.
Only time will tell whats ahead for these 2 coaches. They have both made tremendous progress for their college institutions and have opened a lot of peoples eyes to their schools.
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