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The Season

The Season

All spring and summer we were a young football team full of promise — then the season started.

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“They played as a team, won as a team, and refused to lose.”
John C. Hitt, UCF president

All spring and summer we were a young football team full of promise — then the season started.

“They played as a team, won as a team, and refused to lose.”
John C. Hitt, UCF president

The 2013 Season In Review

Vs. Akron

Season opener record: 23-12

8/29

Vs Akron

W, 38-7

Replay: UCF recovered its own fumble on the opening play. Blake Bortles then passed to Breshad Perriman for a 91-yard touchdown, the longest play from scrimmage in school history.

“Every time I touch the ball I want to score. Honestly, I thought somebody was going to tackle me from behind.”
Breshad Perriman, wide receiver

At FIU
9/6

At FIU

W, 38-0

Replay: UCF holds FIU to 31 rushing yards and avenges the 2011 loss in Miami.

“You’ve got to stay on top of people and keep your foot on the gas, and I thought we did.”
George O’Leary, coach

At Penn State

Largest crowd to watch UCF was at Ohio State (104,745 in 2012)

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

9/14

At Penn State

W, 34-31

Replay: Before 92,855 fans, Bortles passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Storm Johnson ran for 117 yards to mark his first career 100-yard game. UCF never trailed.

“It means a lot to us. We wanted to come get our respect, and that’s what we did.”
Storm Johnson, running back

9/28

Vs South Carolina

L, 28-25

Replay: Playing before a nationwide TV audience on ABC and the largest home crowd since 2009, UCF led 10-0 at halftime.

“For the first half, we were the better team. But they made plays in the second half, and we didn’t make plays until it was too late.”
Terrance Plummer, linebacker

Vs. South Carolina

AP Photo/John Raoux

At Memphis

AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal/Mark Weber

10/5

At Memphis

W, 24-17

Replay: UCF earned its first American Athletic Conference victory by scoring two touchdowns in nine seconds late in the fourth quarter. Plummer sealed the victory with an interception in the end zone.

“The other team outplayed us, and we were very fortunate to come out with a win.”
George O’Leary, coach

At Louisville

Largest come from behind wins: 2013 Louisville, 1984 Illinois State (21 points)

Joe Robbins/Sport/Getty Images

10/18

At Louisville

W, 38-35

Replay: The Knights entered the AP Top 25 following Jeff Godfrey’s TD catch from Bortles with 23 seconds remaining in the game.

“It’s something you dream as a little kid, making the winning catch or throwing the winning touchdown. The dream just came true.”
Jeff Godfrey, wide receiver

10/26

Vs Uconn

W, 62-17

Replay: Bortles scored five touchdowns and completed 20 of 24 passes for 286 yards. The defense caused four UConn turnovers.

“We were definitely in sync as a unit, and we moved the ball down the field and executed. We were feeling [great], and we were able to execute what we were doing.”
Blake Bortles, quarterback

Vs. UConn

LB Troy Gray (No. 57) celebrates an interception.

11/9

Vs Houston

W, 19-14

Replay: Victory was assured with 14 seconds left in the game when UCF denied Houston a crucial fourth-and-goal opportunity. Storm Johnson finished with a season-high 127 yards on 18 carries.

Vs. Houston

“We were able to play UCF football. That is our goal on defense — to play hard. Coach always has us prepare like the game is going to come down to fourth-and-one on the goal line to win the game. That is basically what it came down to.”
E.J. Dunston, defensive lineman

At Temple

J.J. Worton, winner of the ESPN Sport Science Newton Award for Best Catch

11/16

At Temple

W, 39-36

Replay: Shawn Moffitt’s 23-yard field goal as time expired gave UCF the win. J.J. Worton caught 10 passes for a season-high 179 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-tying score.

“That’s the best catch I’ve ever had — practice or in a game. All glory to God right now. I’m just lucky I was able to come down with the ball.”
J.J. Worton, wide receiver

Vs. Rutgers
11/21

Vs Rutgers

W, 41-17

Replay: UCF held Rutgers to 69 rushing yards and amassed 452 yards of offense, including William Stanback’s run that was named the No. 1 top play on “SportsCenter.”

“It was a classic lowering your shoulder and running through the guy. … It was everything you teach.”
Coach O’Leary said of Stanback’s run

11/29

Vs USF

W, 23-30

Replay: Jordan Ozerities’ interception at the UCF 26-yard line with 1:20 left in the game secured the win. Rannell Hall had 229 all-purpose yards, while Perriman put UCF on top with a 52-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter.

“When you don’t play very well and have five turnovers, you don’t usually win games like that.”
George O’Leary, coach

Vs. USF

The black helmets sold out in nine minutes when offered to GKC members and season ticket holders.

AP Photo/Alex Menendez

At SMU

Coldest game in UCF history (24F at kickoff)

12/7

At SMU

W, 17-13

Replay: Fewer than 1,000 fans braved subfreezing temperatures to see Bortles pass for 242 yards and run for two touchdowns. With the victory, UCF won the inaugural American Athletic Conference title and a trip to its first BCS game.

“It’s unbelievable. Everybody is excited. I know a lot of people haven’t won a championship in their life, me being one of them, but it’s a great feeling. … Everybody goes through adversity, and we’ve been doing that all season. But we always overcome it.”
Brandon Alexander, defensive back

Team Stats

Season Bests

Most Watched:
Home Game:
47,605 (USC)
Away Game:
92,855 (PSU)
TV Game:
11.2 million (BU)
Most Points, Season:
Shawn Moffitt, 112 points, 91.3 FG% (record), 21 FG (record)
All-Purpose Yards, Season:
Rannell Hall, 1,696 yards
Passing, Game:
Blake Bortles, 404 yards (TU)
Passing, Season:
Blake Bortles, 3,581 yards
Rushing, Game:
Storm Johnson, 127 yards (UH)
Rushing, Season:
Storm Johnson, 1,139 yards
Receiving, Game:
J.J. Worton, 179 yards (TU)
Receiving, Season:
Rannell Hall, 886 yards
Longest Punt:
Caleb Houston, 71 yards (UM)
Longest Field Goal:
Shawn Moffitt, 50 yards (UCONN)
Longest Kickoff Return:
Rannell Hall, 69 yards (USF)
Longest Run, Game:
Storm Johnson, 73 yards (TU)
Tackles, Game:
Terrance Plummer, 14 (USC, BU)
Tackles, Season:
Terrance Plummer, 110
Passes Without an Interception:
Blake Bortles, 232
Longest Play from Scrimmage:
Blake Bortles to Breshad Perriman (UA), 91 yards (record)

Team Firsts

  • American Athletic Conference, Member
  • American Athletic Conference, Champion
  • Top 10 Ranking
  • Win, Big Ten Team (PSU)
  • Win, Big 12 Team (BU)
  • BCS Bowl
  • BCS Bowl, Victory
  • BCS Bowl, Youngest School Ever
  • 10 Regular-season Wins
  • 12 Total Wins
  • Nine-game Winning Streak
  • Seven Wins by Seven Points or Less
  • Undefeated Away Games, Season
  • 38 Wins, Senior Class

Flashback

In 2003, George O’Leary addressed the media after being named the new head coach for UCF.

“I promise to do what I can do basically to get the football program where it needs to be, the right way, the NCAA way while we’re still graduating our athletes, which is a major concern to me. It’s very important to me that we bring in athletes of great character, great drive in wanting to get an education because I think that carries over onto the athletic field.”

The 2013 player graduation rate of 83 percent ranks second among BCS teams, trailing only Stanford.

UCF Earns Berth in BCS Bowl Game

Fiesta

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl • Jan. 1, 2014 • University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, Ariz.

UCF 52, Baylor 42

Click to view Fiesta Bowl Slideshow

Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of American Athletic Conference, Scott Mitchell Photography, Slingshot Photography and UCF Athletics.