UCF Knights vs Baylor Bears Match Player Stats On Jan 01, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Jan 2, 2014

No. 15 Central Florida 52, No. 5 Baylor 42: Blake Bortles threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a career-high 93 yards and another score as the Knights stunned the Bears to win the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.

Storm Johnson added 124 rushing yards and three touchdowns as Central Florida (12-1) produced the most points of any Baylor opponent this year. The Knights won their school-record ninth straight game behind a balanced offense and gritty defense that held Baylor 11 points below its season average.

Johnson’s two early touchdowns gave the Knights a 14-0 lead, and the American Athletic Conference champions never trailed. While the Knights were the more physical team, Baylor (11-2) proved undisciplined, committing 17 penalties for 135 yards.

Bears quarterback Bryce Petty ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more, hitting 30-of-47 throws for 356 yards. Lache Seastrunk added 117 yards on 17 carries for Baylor, which won 11 games for the first time in school history but failed to win its third straight bowl.

Baylor trailed 28-20 at halftime before Petty tied it with his third rushing score and a two-point conversion run. Bortles’ 10-yard scoring strike to Breshad Perriman put Central Florida ahead for good with 5:38 left in the third quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Central Florida's Rannell Hall caught four passes for a team-high 113 yards, including 50- and 34-yard touchdowns in the second quarter. … Bears senior receiver Tevin Reese returned after missing four games with a dislocated wrist and caught five passes for 43 yards. ... In what was the highest-scoring BCS bowl game ever, the Knights won their third straight bowl after losing their first three.