UCF Knights tested luck at Memphis

The Knights (4-1, 1-0) will have another week to think about what went wrong in their unusual win at Memphis (1-3, 0-1), as they prepare to face No. 8 Louisville in Kentucky (5-0) on Oct. 18.

In one of the most bizarre victories in recent memory, the Knights scored twice in 9 seconds and intercepted a would-be touchdown in the end zone to snatch a 24-17 win in Memphis on Saturday. That win was looking like a loss for the majority of the game, as Memphis jumped out to an early lead and only briefly relinquished it until two minutes left in the game.

But just as a sputtering UCF offense that had barely crested 250 yards in the game came alive, a series of game-deciding plays would come from the offense, special teams, and defense on successive drives to win the game.

"We never give up," head coach George O'Leary said after the team's comeback against South Carolina the week before. Against Memphis, they made the comeback pay off, though unexpectedly.

Diving into the end zone with just more than two minutes to play, Storm Johnson was seemingly capping off a routine scoring drive when, still lying atop a pile of bodies, he let the ball pop out. In the ensuing split second scramble for the ball UCF offensive lineman Chris Martin snagged the ball while he was lying in the end zone, scoring the TD that would lead to the game-tying extra point.

Seconds later the Knights would score again, taking their biggest lead of the game with a wild fumble on the kickoff by Memphis' Marquis Wofford that was grabbed by UCF special teams' Drico Johnson, who raced into the end zone in what would be the game-winning score.

That wild 14-point swing in only 9 seconds became even more dramatic when the Knights let the Tigers drive 69 yards in 71 seconds to the end zone, but UCF defensive end Terrance Plummer picked off pass from halfback Brandon Hayes in a risky play in the end zone for a touchback, effectively ending the game with 35 seconds left.

Just like in their narrow loss to South Carolina the week before, turnovers proved the critical plays in deciding the win. The Knights intercepted the Tigers three times, two of them coming on would-be touchdown passes in the end zone. Their first interception and their fumble recovery both set off drives that ended in key UCF scores.

The Knights, who didn't pick up 100 yards on offense until midway through the third quarter, made nearly all of their turnovers count. And unlike against South Carolina, where turnovers destroyed scoring chances for the Knights, they didn't give up the ball once against Memphis.

Quarterback Blake Bortles, who threw for a career-high 358 yards against South Carolina, only threw for 160 yards against Memphis, his worst performance of the season. Storm Johnson, who had made a routine out of breaking 100 yards rushing per game, came up with only 86. Breshad Perriman caught seven passes for 107 yards.

The Knights will have their work cut out for themselves against undefeated Louisville. The Cardinals have controlled opponents from the start of the season, steadily ranking in the top 10 in the nation, and easily ranking atop the American Athletic Conference, which UCF joined this season.

The two teams have only played one similar opponent so far this season, both facing Florida International. The Knights won their Sept. 6 matchup 38-0. Two weeks later Louisville blew out the Panthers 72-0, allowing only 27 total yards on offense while racking up 464 yards of their own.

The game kicks off at 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at Louisville, televised on ESPN.