Can we please, please, please stop running on every single first down. UCF knows Utah is going to do this. Need a play-action or a misdirection. Surely those are in the playbook, right?
Now, in these next two plays, Bottari cannot take a sack. Obviously can’t commit a turnover either. A TD would be enormous, but I would be OK with a few yards up the middle and then a field goal.
All right, now, Scalley, you are the next head coach. You have been a good, perhaps even very good DC for multiple years here. Your defense has played well most of the season. But on several occasions, in situations like these where a stop or two wins the game, you’ve let us down. Please don’t do it today. (I realize the players have to execute and make the plays.)
Finishing 5-7 is bad, really bad. But it’s so much better than 4-8 and riding into the offseason with the longest in-season losing streak in school history. A win today would be quite nice.
After that long run by the backup QB, I thought, “Here we go again.” That was a huge stop. Now, the offense needs two first downs at least. Anything more than that is gravy.