UCF needs Hail Mary on final play to nullify East Carolina rally
Justin Holman pass complete to Rannell Hall for 16 yds to the ECaro 37 for a 1ST down (0:15)
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Breshad Perriman hauled in a 51-yard touchdown pass on a Hail Mary from Justin Holman on the final play of the game, lifting Central Florida over East Carolina 32-30 on Thursday night to claim a share of the American Athletic Conference title.
Entering the fourth quarter with a 26-9 lead, the Knights (9-3, 7-1) allowed three touchdown passes from East Carolina's Shane Carden. His 13-yard score to Justin Hardy rallied the Pirates (8-4, 5-3) to a 30-26 lead with 2:17 remaining.
Holman's fourth-and-20 pass on the ensuing drive was incomplete.
"[We] never lost faith," Holman said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "There was no pouting, there was no heads down, no puppy-dog eyes. We went out there and executed. We practice that situation and we went out there and did it."
Carden kneeled three times and took a sack on fourth down, giving the Knights the ball back with 10 seconds left.
Holman connected with Josh Reese for 14 yards to get near midfield. Holman then threw a bomb, and Perriman got behind two leaping defenders to haul in the game winner and help UCF join Memphis (9-3, 7-1) as co-conference champions.
"I was thinking it was going to be a knock-down ball from their secondary. ... It was a great play by him, great throw and a heck of an ending," UCF coach George O'Leary said, according to the Sentinel.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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2021 American Athletic Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 8-0 | 13-1 |
| Houston | 8-0 | 12-2 |
| UCF | 5-3 | 9-4 |
| East Carolina | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Tulsa | 5-3 | 7-6 |
| SMU | 4-4 | 8-4 |
| Memphis | 3-5 | 6-6 |
| Navy | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Tulane | 1-7 | 2-10 |
| South Florida | 1-7 | 2-10 |
| Temple | 1-7 | 3-9 |