Baylor Routs UCF 41-9 in the Space Game Behind Lagway's Four Touchdown Passes
Baylor never trailed in Orlando on Friday night, beating UCF 41-9 in the Knights' 10th annual Space Game behind 319 passing yards and four touchdowns from DJ Lagway — and a first win for interim head coach Joe Klanderman, five days after the Bears fired Dave Aranda.
Baylor spoiled the party in Orlando. The Bears beat UCF 41-9 on Friday night in the Knights' 10th annual Space Game at the Acrisure Bounce House, never trailing, leading 20-6 at halftime and outscoring the hosts 21-3 in the second half, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported. Quarterback DJ Lagway threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns, including a 77-yard strike to Gavin Freeman in the third quarter that pushed the lead to 34-6.
The win was the first for interim head coach Joe Klanderman, who got a celebratory ice bath on the sideline — five days after Baylor fired head coach Dave Aranda. Baylor improved to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12. UCF, wearing its Citronauts uniforms for the Space Game, fell to 4-4 and 2-3 and did not score a touchdown, six days after upsetting BYU.
The Knights played three quarterbacks. Starter Keyone Jenkins left with an injury in the third quarter after going 14 of 21 for 82 yards and an interception. Alonza Barnett III took his first snaps since Week 2 — he had been out since a September 12 hamstring injury at Pittsburgh — and freshman Rocco Marriott finished the game, breaking a 56-yard run to the Baylor 1-yard line on the final drive before the Knights were stopped on three straight plays.
UCF's points came from kicker Will Stone, whose 57-yard field goal on the final play of the first half was the longest in school history. Baylor outgained the Knights heavily in the first half, 237-61 at one point, and the Bears' defense recorded five sacks. The result keeps Baylor in the middle of the Big 12 race heading into November, while UCF's Space Game winning run ends against a Texas visitor.
