UCF staged a 14-point second half comeback behind a stifling defensive performance and a career day from Dylan Wade to continue Oklahoma State’s misery in a 17-14 win Saturday in Orlando, Fla.
After a tough first half, the Knights (5-6, 2-6 Big 12) stormed back to keep the Cowboys (1-10, 0-8) at the bottom of the conference.
Wade put up a career-high 145 yards and caught UCF’s two touchdowns on the day. He finished with four catches.
Wade connected with Tayven Jackson for the game-tying score from 2 yards away with 9:12 remaining on fourth-and-goal.
Wade then came up clutch again on UCF’s game-winning drive by streaking wide-open up the seam for a 50-yard completion on the first play of the drive. Jackson ushered the rest of the drive to set up Noe Ruelas’ winning 34-yard field goal with just 57 seconds left.
Wade helped UCF come out the gates hot with an 83-yard catch and run on the first play out of halftime to cut the deficit to 14-7.
Jackson finished his day going 16 for 25 with 271 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.
The UCF defense held the Cowboys to just 27 second-half yards and just one first down as Zane Flores couldn’t operate much for Oklahoma State.
After a promising first half, Flores finished the day 13-of-28 passing for 124 yards, two total TDs and an interception. After the UCF field goal, Flores threw his interception on the very next play.
The Cowboys came out of the gates firing, going 75 yards in a 13-play drive that was capped by a 5-yard pass from Flores to Gavin Freeman a little less than seven minutes into the game.
Oklahoma State kept UCF at bay for the entirety of the first half, forcing two interceptions along with a turnover on downs. The Knights had just 131 total yards in the first half.
Flores ended the half with a 6-yard scamper to extend the lead to 14-0, but was unable to help the Cowboys find much traction for the rest of the day.
