Marshall's late interception secured a thrilling Senior Knight victory. UCF rallied from a halftime deficit, stunning Oklahoma State 17-14 in a dramatic comeback.
UCF safety Braeden Marshall crossed his arms and struck a pose after catching the game-sealing interception, stamping a miraculous comeback for the Knights 17-14 against Oklahoma State on Saturday at the Acrisure Bounce house.
It was a remarkable victory for the team because the seniors played their last home game in front of 41,723 fans. Coach Scott Frost achieved what he emphasized earlier in the week: sending his seniors out with a victory.
"It felt great," linebacker Cole Kozlowski said. "Especially, my last game here at the Bounce House. Awesome for the seniors as well. It was a much-needed win for the program."
UCF had a lackluster first half, scoring zero points, committing turnovers and allowing the Cowboys to put up 14 points — the last time they scored 14 points or more in the first half was against Baylor with 20 points on Sept. 27.
Oklahoma State quarterback Zane Flores started the first drive of the matchup guns blazing, completing four passes of 10 yards or more. Deep into UCF's red zone, wide receiver Gavin Freeman ran parallel to the end zone, caught the ball from Flores and chopped his feet to beat Marshall for a 5-yard touchdown.
UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson took the field to even the score against the Cowboys, but their defense's newfound confidence shut him down. At the end of the first quarter, Jackson scanned through his progressions and zipped a pass to wide receiver Carl Jenkins Jr. Oklahoma State linebacker Ike Esonwune sprinted and deflected the pass attempt in the air for cornerback Cam Smith to intercept.
"I just think our spacing in the pass game wasn't the best," Jackson said. "We just got to be better on spacing. I got to be better on reads, getting the ball out when I need to get the ball out, and run when I need to run."
Things were no different in the second quarter, as the Cowboys scored another touchdown and Jackson threw his second interception. The second score was fueled by the run game with Flores and running back Rodney Fields Jr. as the catalysts.
Fields Jr. broke off a 26-yard and 10-yard run to put his team into UCF territory. In scoring position, again, Flores was swarmed by multiple black jerseys and ran into the end zone for Oklahoma State's 14th straight unanswered points with less than a minute remaining in the half.
A first-half shutout was in the cards for the Cowboys, and cornerback LaDainian Fields ensured his team accomplished something they haven't done this season. Linebacker Wendell Gregory rushed unscathed into the pocket, forcing a quick throw from Jackson to wide receiver Waden Charles.
He threw to Charles' inside shoulder, which spelled trouble because it was an easy catch for Fields to corral the ball for Jackson's second interception of the half. Oklahoma State completed a first-half shutdown, and they had all the momentum until UCF woke up in the second half.
It only took one play for Jackson to get his team back into a game they were highly favored to win. He found tight end Dylan Wade wide open on the right side of the field, and he ran home for an 83-yard touchdown. Wade only saw the green grass of the Bounce House and the black end zone for UCF's first score.
"[It was] just another touchdown," Wade said. "We were still down, trying to find a way to chip away and come back, and that's what we did."
The rest of the third and the first half of the fourth were uneventful as both teams punted the ball seven times in a row before the Knights tied the game. Jackson completed a 26-yard pass to convert a crucial fourth-and-1, an area the team has struggled in recently, and moved them into Oklahoma State's red zone.
The Cowboys stood tall and forced a fourth-and-goal, but instead of playing it safe and kicking the field goal, Frost kept his guys on the field to even the score. The Jackson-Wade connection struck once again.
Oklahoma State had another lapse when Jackson's play action fooled the defense, and he found Wade — wide open, once more — in the end zone. Fortune favored the bold for Frost and his team.
Jackson completed 16 of 25 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions, while Wade had four receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Tied 14-14, it was time for UCF's defense to prevent a long Cowboys drive and hand their offense a chance to take the lead. Five plays later, they forced Oklahoma State to punt, and Jackson stepped onto the field for a game-leading drive.
He found Wade for a 50-yard gain and his third catch of the game. An excellent start to the drive, followed by heavy run play calling for running backs Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon. Nixon ripped a 14-yard run to enter the Cowboys' red zone, where they forced another fourth-and-6.
Frost opted to play it safe and send kicker Noe Ruelas out for the game-leading field goal. Ruelas nailed the 34-yarder to give UCF a narrow lead over its opponent.
"I'm just happy to send the seniors out on a high note," Ruelas said. "Closing out at home, and we have one more opportunity. So, hopefully, go out to Provo, shock a few people and get bowl eligible."
One stop was all the Knights needed to send their seniors off with a victory.
Marshall pedaled to the left side of the field when Flores threw to his receiver, covered by cornerback Jayden Bellamy. Bellamy broke up the pass, and Marshall swooped in for the game-sealing interception.
Saturday's victory moves UCF to five wins on the season, one win closer to becoming bowl eligible. However, they will face tough competition on the road against a ranked opponent.
The Knights will travel to Provo, Utah, to face No. 11 BYU next Saturday for their season finale and to contend for a bowl berth on ESPN2 at 1 p.m.
