ORLANDO — It may not have been the type of game UCF fans were hoping for, but a win is a win.
Filling in for injured starter Cam Fancher following a 2:07-minute delay in the second quarter, Tayven Jackson drew for 282 yards and a pair of fourth quarter touchdown passes, including the game-winner with 1:03 remaining, as the Knights posted a 17-10 victory over defending Conference USA Champion Jacksonville State at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium last Thursday night.
The victory was the 300th in UCF program history and also extended a couple of other streaks _ the 10th straight opening game win, the 11th straight Thursday night win, third most in FBS history, and the 14th consecutive win for Frost in his third season at the helm of the Knights dating back to 2017.
The contest almost started like the old “UCFast” days as on the first play following the opening kickoff from its own 19, Fancher found Marcus Burke breaking open on a post down the middle at midfield that likely would have gone for a 81-yard touchdown, but the ball was just out of the reach of a diving Burke.
Mistakes and big defensive plays kept both teams from scoring until the storms moved in, with the last play seeing Fancher getting sacked for a 14-yard loss and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. But the play was nullified by a targeting penalty and the teams headed to the locker room for the long delay.
When the game resumed Jackson took over the controls and led the Knights down the field behind the running of Myles Montgomery. But that drive came to halt when a 29-yard touchdown run by Montgomery was called back on a holding penalty and a later chop block penalty took UCF out of field goal range.
That drive was a microcosm of the first half. The Black and Gold gained 50 yards on 17 plays and ate up 9:35 of the clock before having to turn the ball over on downs.
After a pair of three-and-outs, JSU went on a 77-yard, 11-play drive over the final 1:45 of the half, but UCFs Keli Lawson made an amazing leaping block on a 35-yard field goal attempt to end the half with no score.
The Gamecocks took the second half kickoff and made one first down before punting.
The set the stage for both teams finally getting on then board as the Knights opened a drive with Montgomery turning a 6-yard toss into a 64-yard reception and the hosts capped a 73-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal by Noe Ruelas before JSU answered with a 50-yard drive the saw Garrison Rippa nail a 42-yard field goal.
On their next possession that stretched over the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, the Gamecocks showed offensive life for the first time all night, marching 84-yards on 11 plays to take a 10-3 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by Andrew Paul with 12:01 left in the game.
UCF answered right back with Jackson finding Dylan Wade wide open over the middle on a second down and three yards to go and the big tight end ran 39-yards for the tying score with 9:30 remaining.
After a quick 3-and-out by JSU, the Knights moved into scoring range again on a pair of passes for 42 yards, but a sack and incomplete pass forced the home team to try a 43-yard field goal that was wide right.
The Gamecocks then drove down the field and a faced a third-and-4 from the 39-yard-line, but Lawson made a nice stop on a three-yard run before Jayden Williams stoned the JSU on a quick fourth down attempt and UCF took over at the 36 with 1:35 remaining.
After a pair of incomplete passes, Jackson broke through the line for a 15-yard run and after a pair of short runs by Montgomery, the Knights faced a third and 8 at the 33 with 1:10 remaining.
But instead of settling for a field goal attempt, Jackson was able to find DJ Black with a perfect throw at the one and what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown.
The guests were able to get the ball out to the 46, but Jayden Bellamy came up with a huge interception at the UCF 44 with just 21-seconds remaining and the Knights were able to go into the victory formation for a play.
UCF accumulated 422 yards of offense to 322 for JSU. Jackson was 17-for-24 for 282 yards and the two touchdowns, while Montgomery carried the ball 21 times for 79 yards rushing and also caught three passes for 71 yards.
Defensively, Lewis Carter led the way with nine tackles, while the Seminole County trio of Demari Henderson (4 solo tackles), Braeden Marshall (2 solo tackles) and Ja’Cari Henderson (1 assist) accounted for seven tackles.
UCF will remain at home this Saturday to host North Carolina A&T with game time set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ from the Acrisure Bounce House.
The contest will also be carried on the radio on AM740/FM 96.9 The Game (Play-by-Play _ Marc Daniels; Analyst _ Gary Parris; Reporter _ Scott Adams), with the pregame show starting at 5 p.m., and Spanish Radio: UCFKnights.com, YouTube.com/UCFKnights.
Live Stats will be available at _ UCFKnights.com _ and if you would like to comment, use Twitter _ @UCF_Football _ under the Hashtag _ #ChargeOn.
In other local college action:
* The Stetson University football team dropped its 2025 season opener Saturday night, falling 31-21 to Webber International at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium after a 90-minute weather delay pushed back kickoff.
Seminole High grad Trey Clark ran for a game-high 74-yards on 14 carries, while Hagerty’s Anthony Benzija, in his first action as a tight end after moving from quarterback, caught a 20-yard touchdown pass.
* Keyone Jenkins passed for 187 yards while rushing for a pair of touchdowns to lift Florida International to a 42-9 victory over visiting Bethune-Cookman at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in the season opener for both teams Friday evening. The game was delayed for over an hour due to weather in and around Dade County.
Seminole High grad and former USF and UCF quarterback Timmy McClain came off the bench to complete 18-of-28 passes for 164 yards in his first action with the Wildcats. Another Sanford native, true freshman Khamani Robinson, caught a seven-yard pass. A third former Fighting Seminole, Johnny Harris III, made six tackles.
Here are the results:
Week 1
Thursday, August 28
UCF 17, Jacksonville State 10.
Friday, August 29
FIU 42, Bethune-Cookman 9.
Saturday, August 30
Webber International 31, Stetson 21.
Here is the schedule:
Week 2
Saturday, September 6
* Bethune-Cookman University vs. University of Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, 7 p.m.
* North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University vs. UCF at Acrisure Bounce House, 7 p.m.
* Warner University vs. Stetson University at Spec Martin Municipal Stadium, 6 p.m.
