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Blake Bortles leads UCF to 38-17 win over Ball State in bowl
Knights earned 10-win season
By Paul Tenorio, Orlando Sentinel
11:37 PM EST, December 21, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — The blitz came from the right side, squarely in UCF quarterback Blake Bortles' vision as the clock wound down in the first half.
The redshirt sophomore didn't duck away or flinch, but stepped forward into the path of the oncoming defender.
"It was a corner," he would say later with a chuckle, "I'm bigger than he is."
The arching pass dropped perfectly into the hands of freshman receiver Breshad Perriman, a 45-yard gain that would set up a touchdown before halftime. It was one of many highlight moments for Bortles, who was only just beginning a career night on a national stage.
Bortles led the Knights to a 38-17 win over Ball State in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl Friday night at Tropicana Field. The game drew an announced crowd of 21,759 fans.
Bortles completed 22 of 32 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed for 79 yards and one score on nine carries during the win, turning in his strongest performance of the season.
The Oviedo grad finished with 3,058 passing yards this season, the first UCF quarterback to surpass the 3,000 yard mark since 2002 and the fifth-best single-season mark in program history. His 25 passing touchdowns this season tied Daunte Culpepper for fifth all-time.
"I can't believe he's not going to be a pro prospect if he continues to develop the way he has," Ball State coach Pete Lembo said.
It was a significant win for UCF, giving the Knights 10 wins during the season and sending out their 20 seniors with 34 wins in four years, the most ever by any class in program history. The result also provided some momentum as UCF heads into a shaky offseason as a Big East member, a move that is supposed to serve as the next step for a growing program.
Asked often this year to use his legs as a weapon, Bortles rushed for a big gain early in the game that served as a preview for how dangerous a runner he can be. The 6-4, 221-pound quarterback later nearly outran a cornerback on a scramble, and then took a carry from the 6-yard line and bowled over two Ball State defenders for a touchdown with a second-effort push in the second quarter.
He also threw a pair of touchdown tosses to Latavius Murray, the second of which was a patient swing pass after he worked through all his progressions with the final seconds ticking off the clock in the first half.
"I think he basically took some bad plays and made some good plays out of them," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "He had a good night, and when your quarterback does well, offense moves the ball. That's how it works."
While Bortles stood out and earned Beef `O' Brady's Bowl most valuable player honors, Murray closed his career with another big bowl game performance. Murray, the 2010 Liberty Bowl most valuable player, caught the opening touchdown of the game over the middle and rushed for a score on the Knights' second possession to give UCF a 13-7 lead.
The redshirt senior finished with 73 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He also had six catches for 32 yards and two touchdowns. His 44 career touchdowns are second all-time in program history.
With those two playing well in the backfield, UCF took control of the game just before halftime.
With a 21-7 lead, the Knights took possession after a missed field goal at their own 20-yard line with 55 seconds remaining before the break.
Bortles would hit Jeff Godfrey for a 12-yard gain, and, after a false start penalty, connected with Murray for 10 to give UCF the ball at the 37-yard line. Then, he dropped back and found Perriman down the right sideline for the big 45-yard gain that put UCF on the Ball State 18-yard line.
It was the fifth reception on the night for the true freshman, a career-high, and Perriman would also finish with a career-high 90 yards receiving.
Four plays later, with just 11 seconds left on the clock, Bortles took a snap and waited in the pocket, working his eyes across the field until he found Murray for a five-yard swing pass touchdown to give UCF a 28-7 lead.
The second half was just the finishing touches for Bortles.
"Our main goal was to get a 10-win season and send these seniors out on a good note," Bortles said. "But it also gives us a big boost going into the offseason."
UCF goes into that break with the uncertainty of a Big East in rebuilding mode, but it does so with the confidence that it has a quarterback for whatever future lies ahead.
ptenorio@tribune.com
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