Failed two-point conversion costs game at Southern Miss

On the sideline, there was never a doubt the Knights would go for two.

The team had come to get a win, and when UCF started its drive late in the fourth quarter, the team knew what would happen if it was successful.

"We made the decision two minutes before that if we scored that we were going for two points to win this game," head coach George O'Leary said in a release. "We came to win the game, and that gave us the best opportunity to win."

The touchdown came for the Knights (4-6, 2-4) but the two-point conversion to win the game fell short, and the No. 22 Southern Miss Golden Eagles (9-1, 5-1) captured the 30-29 victory in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Bortles led the drive to put UCF within a point of Southern Miss. With time expiring, Bortles found fellow redshirt freshman J.J. Worton, who made an acrobatic catch to silence the loud crowd at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

"When J.J. came off the field [after the touchdown catch], he said he had to get one back because of the fumbled punt," O'Leary said. "That was a great catch by Worton on the touchdown. There were a lot of momentum changes, and the kids played their hearts out."

The unlikely touchdown pass from 25 yards out capped a drive where Bortles went nine-for-10 to lead the Knights down the field.

"Blake has ice water in his veins," senior running back Ronnie Weaver said. "We were all depending on him to make plays for us, and he came through. He came in with some adversity and in a tough situation playing here at ‘The Rock,' and he played really well."

The game came down to the gutsy and controversial decision to go for two. The pass, intended for senior tight end Adam Nissley, came up short, and excitement quickly gave way to disappointment.

Still, UCF players said after the game they completely supported their coach and his decision to forego kicking the extra point thereby also foregoing a likely overtime battle.

"I loved the call because we had the momentum at the time, and we had just put together a great drive," said redshirt junior running back Latavius Murray, who scored a touchdown on a 69-yard kickoff return early in the fourth quarter that swung momentum in the Knights' favor. "We punched it in for the touchdown, but we didn't finish it off with the two-point conversion. But I was happy that we went for it, and I was excited."

Speaking for the defense, senior linebacker Josh Linam had similar sentiments.

"I loved it, and I thought that's what [O'Leary] should do. We had a chance to win a game, but we didn't finish it," Linam said.

Despite the team's support of the risky call and some positives to be taken away from the game, the Knights still find themselves with their backs against the wall. With two games remaining, UCF has to now win out to become bowl eligible with a 6-6 record.

Moral victories notwithstanding, the Knights have still yet to obtain a victory on the road. With the loss to the Golden Eagles, UCF fell to 0-5 on the road this season.

In order to have a chance at playing in a bowl game, the Knights will need to avoid a winless season on the road by beating East Carolina (4-6, 3-3) next week in Greenville, N.C. If victorious, UCF would then have to return home and beat UTEP (5-5, 2-4).

"From a morale standpoint, I feel like we came together as a team, but I'm still not happy about the loss," Weaver said. "We're going to do what we can now to get that sixth win and get to a bowl game."