Why UCF football used backup QB Davi Belfort for last drive of Space Game loss to Houston
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ORLANDO — In the biggest moment of their annual signature showdown, the UCF Knights inserted their backup quarterback.
Redshirt freshman Davi Belfort subbed in for starter Tayven Jackson with 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter Friday, Nov. 7. Houston led 30-27, but the Knights possessed the ball at their own 46-yard line.
A sold-out Acrisure Bounce House rocked. A national TV audience on FS1 watched. And a prime opportunity to not only grow the mystique of the Space Game but to start creating Belfort’s own personal legend awaited.
The Virginia Tech transfer scrambled twice for first downs, charging UCF to the Cougars’ 27-yard line. But on his offense’s final snap of the evening, Belfort threw late over the middle and was intercepted.
The Knights suffered their first-ever Space Game defeat.
“Yeah, Tayven had a hamstring (injury) earlier in the game, and we had taped it up,” head coach Scott Frost said about the shift to Belfort. “Just figured in that situation (Houston) would be probably coming after us. We needed someone who could get away from the pass rush a little and maybe create something. And for the most part, it worked.”
For the most part, yes.
Belfort ran five times for 36 yards. He sparked an offense that looked largely ineffective all night, one that was outgained 433-282.
“He was excited to go in,” Frost said. “He came up to me and said, ‘Coach, let’s go win this thing.’ We kind of came up with a couple of new plays for him before that drive. They hit. He did a good job executing them. It’s why I feel terrible for him. I thought he had a really good drive until that last play.”
The last play served as his lone pass attempt.
With 11 seconds left and UCF already in field-goal range, Belfort looked deep over the middle. Duane Thomas Jr. sprung open.
The toss simply arrived late, and Houston’s Kentrell Webb grabbed it at the goal line.
“It’s not really in me to run the ball up the middle and go to overtime,” Frost said. “We had a play that we liked. It’s one of our base plays that he knew. We trust him. I thought Speedy (Thomas) was open. I’ve got to look at the tape. Maybe we just didn’t get to him fast enough.
“Even if that’s an incomplete pass, we go out and kick the field goal. I’m not just going to call inside zone and get two (yards) in that situation. We had a chance to win the game.”
Belfort was not made available to the media afterward, but his teammates liked what they saw.
“I love that kid,” offensive lineman Preston Cushman said. “I know he’s hurting after his ball at the end of the game, but we’re not on him about that because he made that drive go and got some crucial yards with his legs. I’m so excited for that kid’s future and for us to just mentor him and build around him.”
“We were behind him all the way,” running back Jaden Nixon added.
The appearance was Belfort’s third of his college career. He also suited up in garbage time against North Carolina A&T in September and West Virginia last month.
He rose to the primary backup spot behind Jackson, as Cam Fancher missed the last three contests with a rib injury.
Jackson, meanwhile, continued to struggle against the Cougars.
He completed 15 of his 29 passes for 136 yards. It was the fifth time in his seven starts that he failed to reach 200 yards through the air. He also fired a pick-6 in the second quarter.
The Knights’ offense accounted for only 20 points. The unit has exceeded that total once in its last six outings.
“We’ve just got to execute better, if I’m being honest,” Frost said. “We’ve just got to get a little better at a lot of things … You can’t just come up with a bunch of gimmicks and tricks to move the ball. We just need to do the basic things better.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football QB Davi Belfort put into huge moment vs. Houston
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