The UCF Knights lost 41-9 to the Baylor Bears during the 10th annual Space Game, moving the Knights to a 4-4 overall record and 2-3 within the Big 12 conference. UCF’s defense struggled to keep pressure on Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway, as he threw for 319 yards with a completion rate of 64%.
The first of UCF’s challenges began early in the first quarter, when UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw an interception to Baylor cornerback Devon Jordan. Baylor’s drive from that interception ended in a touchdown pass from Baylor quarterback Lagway to tight end Tony Livingston to make it 7-0 Baylor. UCF finished the quarter with 6 total yards.
Baylor fired first in the second quarter with a 63-yard drive that ended in a rushing touchdown from running back Caden Knighten to put the Bears up 14-0. The Knights answered 5 minutes later with their first points of the game, a 39-yard field goal from kicker Will Stone, to make it 14-3.
The Bears then scored two field goals within 42 seconds of game time to go up 20-3. UCF responded with a 57-yard field goal from Stone, which put the Knights up by six points, making it 20-6 going into the half. This field goal set a new record as the longest field goal in UCF history.
The third quarter saw Baylor open with back-to-back touchdowns. The first touchdown came from a 21-yard touchdown pass from Lagway to tight end Livingston to make the score 27-6. The second came from a 77-yard touchdown pass from Lagway to wide receiver Gavin Freeman for 21 yards, putting Baylor up 34-6.
Starting quarterback Jenkins also suffered a lower body injury at the beginning of the third quarter, which saw quarterback Alonza Barnett III fill in Jenkins’ place for the rest of the game.
UCF closed the third quarter with a 35-yard field goal from kicker Stone, moving into the fourth quarter down 34-9.
The fourth quarter’s scoring began with another Baylor touchdown that saw Baylor quarterback Lagway complete a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Matthew Klopfenstein to go up 41-9.
Overall, the Knights struggled both offensively and defensively, as they allowed the Baylor offense 503 yards, whereas the Knights responded with only 281 yards, with 66 yards coming from rushing.
At a 4-4 record, the Knights’ next challenge comes on November 7th against the Kansas Jayhawks at the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, as UCF looks forward to improving both their conference and overall record.
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