UCF coach Gus Malzahn received two celebratory Gatorade baths following the Knights’ 29-17 win over the Florida Gators in the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday night.
“Some wins are worth two,” Malzahn said with a smile on his face. “And I think that was worth two, especially with the way that the season went. Our guys showed unbelievable resiliency, toughness and character.”
UCF receiver Ryan O’Keefe did just about everything in leading the Knights to their first win over the Gators.
The junior from Texas finished with a bowl-record 251 all-purpose yards, catching a 54-yard touchdown that put the Knights in control with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium.
“I don’t know how times he touched the ball, but our goal was for him to touch the ball 15 times,” Malzahn said. “He’s one of the best playmakers in college football and he proved that tonight on this stage.”
O’Keefe ended with 110 rushing yards on just 4 carries, 7 catches for 85 yards, and 2 kickoff returns totaling 56 yards. True freshman quarterback Mikey Keene finished 14 of 22 with 144 yards and the 1 touchdown pass to O’Keefe.
