(15) Central Florida Storms to Fiesta Bowl Victory Over (6) Baylor
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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images(GLENDALE, Ariz.) — Storm Johnson rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns as No. 15 Central Florida overcame three turnovers to defeat No. 6 Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl Wednesday.
“It was a great team victory,” UCF head coach George O’Leary said to ESPN. “Offensively we put points on the board and our defense slowed them down. They’re a great offense, Baylor, but I thought they (UCF) went out and did what they were supposed to do game plan wise, and offensively got some chunk plays in the second half and we outscored them.”
A big reason for that was due to junior quarterback Blake Bortles. Bortles threw for 301 yards, rushed for another 93 and accounted for four touchdowns in the win.
“I really couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this team, this university,” Bortles told ESPN. “There’s not many people in the country that gave us a shot tonight and I think we really came out and showed the country what UCF is about.”
If point spreads measure belief then Bortles is right. UCF (12-1) came into the game as 17-point underdogs. But the Knights quickly made it known they meant business scoring touchdowns on their first two offensive drives in what ended up as the second-highest scoring game in BCS bowl history.
Baylor (11-2) may have not won the game but it did set a record. The Bears broke the NCAA record for most points scored in a 13-game season when quarterback Bryce Petty ran in a 13-yard touchdown. That play gave Baylor 659 points, pushing them past the 652 points Texas scored in 2005.
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