Hail Mary Propels UCF Knights to In-State Bowl Game

By A.J. Jackson | UCF Columnist
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It’s amazing how much one play changed the fate of Central Florida’s (9-3, 7-1) mystic season.

Breshad Perriman’s game-winning touchdown catch with time expiring forbade the Knights from leaving the comfort of their own backyard this bowl season.

If UCF had lost to East Carolina, the Knights would have presumably taken the Pirates’ place in the Birmingham Bowl. But, let’s face it. Birmingham, Alabama is probably not the best place to talk college football or generate revenue or viewership right now.

Cincinnati finished with an identical record as the Knights, but still drew the shortest straw and will end up traveling to Annapolis, Maryland for the Military Bowl against Virginia Tech.

Instead, UCF has the pleasure of staying in the state of Florida for the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl against North Carolina State. This will be UCF’s third trip to Tampa for the St. Petersburg Bowl in its last 10 seasons.

If East Carolina bats down Justin Holman’s Hail Mary” pass, UCF’s season is a forgotten one. That immortal reception now has an echoing effect. Especially, considering how many people undermined the true gull and fight UCF showcased this season, finishing with a share of the AAC crown for the second consecutive campaign.

Nevertheless, having the proverbial home field advantage is sure to be something that the Knights can be thankful for this bowl/holiday season.

“After a 9-3 season we are very happy to go to the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl,” said head coach George O’Leary. “We are very anxious to get to St. Petersburg and enjoy the bowl and its festivities. It will be a great experience for our players and fans.”

Central Florida has the pleasure of traveling down a road they’ve literally conquered earlier this season, beating South Florida in Tampa, 16-0. The Knights will have to travel a little further south on I-4, to I-275, but the trip accommodations will be a sure hit to the in-state fans.

While ticket availability is split between the programs for the actual game, UCF will benefit from having this matchup so close to home; considering the remainder of bowl game tickets are made available for the local population. Even if NC State is able to match UCF’s numbers inside of Tropicana Field, the ambiance around the city will be covered with Floridians and those with closer ties to the Knights.

UCF also doubles North Carolina State in student body size, so the backing of Knights supporters should make the team much more confident and comfortable against a feisty Wolfpack squad.

I was a bit optimistic before all bowl games were announced; hopeful that UCF could take on the toughest opponent out of all of the co-conference champions. Memphis, rightfully, gets that opportunity, facing a BYU squad (8-4) that the Knights beat in overtime, 31-24. So, in reality, UCF got the best game it possibly could ask for with the best stipulation, minimal travel, and a supportive fan base to rally with.

The Justin Holman to Breshad Perriman Hail Mary might be the reason that UCF has an advantage over its competition for this bowl game. The catch not only secured a shot at conference gold, but a chance for a highly underrated team to prove their worth once more.

This has been one hell of a season for UCF football, enduring its highs and lows.

But, one thing is for certain: Perriman’s magical catch has affected more than just one night. It’s made it a season Central Florida fans will never forget. And now, they get to keep the party going with their respective bowl game match up being played in their own backyard.

Edited By: Ali Balchunas