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Scott Frost Postgame: Big plays, big UCF win over West Virginia

UCFSportsOn3by: Brandon Helwig10/19/25UCFSports

Scott Frost called UCF’s 45-13 rout of West Virginia their most complete performance of the season.

UCF rolled up 578 yards of offense, Tayven Jackson threw two fourth-down touchdown passes to Chris Domercant, Jaden Nixon added two rushing scores, and the Knights’ defense racked up seven sacks while holding WVU to just 210 total yards.

Here’s everything Frost had to say afterward:

Opening statement

“That was a lot of fun. You know, I got some questions about if our kids are gonna keep fighting and all that. They’ve been fighting. I think we played more of a complete game today and it’s awesome to do it in the Bounce House on homecoming, so I’m really happy for the group today.”

On the importance of getting a win following the 3-game losing streak

“This one was really important. We had our chances in the last three and I think if we would have played our best, there’s a chance we could have got one or two or more of them, but we didn’t and that’s part of growing up as a football team, but we needed to get back on the right track with some momentum, especially going into a bye week.”

On the QB injury situation with Cam Fancher listed as out

“Cam, I can’t tell you how much respect I have for him. He has a couple broken ribs. We didn’t know about it until midweek. He practiced with it. He finished the game with it, so it says a lot about how tough he is.

“Jacurri (Brown) was emergency for us. He’s still not quite ready to go, but he would have gone in if we really needed it, so we really went in with Tay and Davi (Belfort).”

On the offensive performance and what was said at halftime

“We just talked about how well we played, except for we got to get the short yardage figured out. You know, looking at it on tape, on the sideline, we just didn’t execute very well on a couple of the runs. Now, if you tell me we’re going to go for it on four fourth downs and score touchdowns on two of them, I would probably take that, but we got to be able to line up around the ball and get a yard, and that’s something we’ll certainly continue to look at over the bye week.

“But you know, other than the short yardage stuff, I thought, you know, you’re not going to hit on everything, but we executed at a higher rate today than we have, and we made some big plays, and that’s the ingredient that’s been missing.”

On the decision to go for it on fourth down

“To be honest, Jeff Love, one of my recruiting guys, has the analytics, and I’m not a pure analytics guy. You know, I think the feel of the game has a lot to do with it, but the only one I question is, you know, up 14. We went for it, and they went and got a touchdown, and if you get it, great.

“If you don’t, you hope your defense can stand up and not make it a one-score game again, but I think, you know, it was the right call. We just got to be a little better.”

On finally forcing a turnover, and his thoughts on the overall defensive effort

“The defense has been playing really good for a while. I think this was their most complete game, starting with the fact that a play like that changes the game. You know, that was still a ball game when Nyjalik (Kelly) got a strip, and Keli (Lawson) took it back, and that blows it open.

“You know, this is not counting the interception and getting on the ball late. Our defense probably would have had two straight second half shutouts. Says a lot about the job Coach (Alex) Grinch is doing, and those guys, they can continue to get better, despite missing some pieces now.

“I think that group’s starting to come together and play as a unit, and we didn’t have any major busts either, so we didn’t give up any big plays because of mistakes, and I think the combination of that and the turnover, I think that was their best game.”

On getting pressure on WVU’s quarterbacks

“Yeah, and I’m happy with how some of them are playing. You know, we’ve had a couple losses there. I think we have pretty good depth because of the way we had to build the roster so late and with all these new guys, but we paid a lot of attention to even the guys kind of down the way a little bit, and they’re getting their chance now at a bunch of different positions and see some good things from them.”

On the passing game

“Well, Tayven’s got a special ability to throw the football, so it starts with that. I thought our line did a good job protecting and giving him the opportunity to do that, and it’s kind of been the issue on some drives in a couple games. When we get first downs, you just have more opportunities to throw it and therefore more opportunities to create a big play in the pass game, and we did enough the rest of the time to earn the right to take those shots.”

On Tayven’s fourth-down touchdown passes

“I think so. That’s just going to come with experience. It was a great play by him. When he took off, I thought he was going to run for the first. Chris Domercant had a great game, and it’s good to see him stepping up on that play. You know, we work scramble drill all the time, and he did a great job running to space and finding an area and taking his eyes downfield and made the throw.

“And, you know, you can call it a great game and call the right play all the time, but that’s football, and plays are going to break down, and if you have guys that can make plays in those situations, then you’re a better team.”

On Paul Rubelt being out and the play of the offensive line

“Yeah, he’s got an ankle, so it’s not going to be long. You know, he’s one of our leaders, so it was a little discouraging going into the game without him, but he wants to be back, and he’ll be back soon. You know, I got to watch the tape, but Owen Spell was ready to step up.

“We’re using Connor Meadows at tackle and kind of in another role right now, and it’s a good thing we have those guys. They’re plenty capable going in and performing.”

On the injury status of Sincere Edwards

“Yeah, he has a foot, Lisfranc, so he’s done for the year. Tough loss for us. Mostly, again, I say this every time, but man, you talk about a kid that works hard and a big part of our team, and we’ll certainly miss him, but, you know, other guys got to step up, and we’ll be right there with him as he gets healthy.”

On the pass rush and the seven sacks

“You know, it was strange how the seasons kind of worked out. Those guys haven’t had a ton of opportunities to rush the passer, and I’m not making excuses for them, but, you know, our first game we played a team that didn’t throw it very much, and the second game they didn’t throw it very much, and Kansas State was a little heavier run, and then Cincinnati got ahead of us, and that was more of a run game.

“This is the first time we’ve been ahead in a game and put the other team in a quarterback needed to throw it, and then we can let our guys hunt for sacks, and so the situation in the game dictates that, too.”

On WVU’s offense, and taking away the pass

“Well, that’s kind of who they’ve been this year, so it wasn’t kind of unique to this game. They do a good job with their run scheme and quarterback runs, and then they’re going to throw it off that if you’re not in coverage and discipline, and that’s where our secondary did a really good job when the quarterback took off with a run or pass option of staying on their guys and making them run it, and then our pursuit to the football was good.

“I got so much respect for Coach Rodriguez as a coach. I said earlier this week that the classy gesture that they made sending us no cards after Coach Clark’s passing. He’s a good guy and a good football coach. They’re going through the same first-year stuff that we are. He told me they had 72 new players. That’s yeoman’s work to get that many new guys playing well, so I don’t have any doubt that they’ll continue to improve, but our defense was up to challenge today.”

On the confidence he has in kicker Noe Ruelas, who hit a 51-yard FG

“It gives me three options, and it’s really nice to have a guy that you feel like can hit it from over 50, and he was a captain this week because he’s earned that, and I thought he had a great day, and if he can make those, you know, it changes my play calls a little bit knowing that I had that in the back pocket, and he’s a big piece of what we’re doing.”

On how this win can carry the team

“This team believes, and they’re going to keep fighting regardless of one game or another, and I’ve told you guys that the last couple weeks. This team’s starting to come together. The vibe in the building and locker room is really good.

“They believe they needed a win to really boost that belief, but I think they believe they’re going to have a chance every time we go out there, and then we just got to keep getting the execution hotter and hotter so we can be a little bit better every week, and we’ll keep taking swings, but it’s a really good group.”

On the play of the offensive line

“I thought the whole line played well. I think they’ve continued to get better. You know, you can’t discount some of those long runs that we’re getting. We got guys with speed that when they get on the second level, clean, they got a chance to make a big play, but that starts up front, and you know, the last few weeks we’ve had several plays where a big hole opens, and we got guys that can go through it. That’s the guys up front.

“The passes can’t happen unless the quarterback has time, so we got a bunch of guys playing up there too at guard, at tackle. I think they’re doing a good job and getting better every week.”

On the running game

“Yeah, again, it goes back to every play is not going to work, and you want it to. I don’t know. I get the most frustrated out of everybody, trust me, because you spend all week designing something, and you know this is going to hit, and then it doesn’t.

“But, you know, we ran for over 200 yards, and that starts up front. Just like anything else with us right now, I want it to be more consistent. I want us to be able to rely on, even if the run’s not completely there, getting four or five tough yards and not being behind the stick.

“So we got to keep working on consistency with young players, and I think that’ll continue to get better in the past.”

On the play of QB Davi Belfort

“I thought he came in, and he’s just got a lot of spirit. The team loves him. You know, great kid, good character. He can really run. He’s really fast.

“You know, I thought Caleb Rollerson scored. I have to look at the replay. Then we’re trying to get Speedy (Duane Thomas Jr.) in the end zone, and they played that really well, and we went backwards, and then we went backwards on the next snap and gave him a chance, and he made it happen with his legs.

“So he prepared really well. He was excited to go in the game. I thought he did a good job.”

On Chris Domercan’t game at wide receiver

“Chris has continued to get better, and he’s played more football than a lot of our guys just at another place. So I think his experience kind of shines through, but just like everybody else in that room, he continues to develop. Same thing.

“We got to get more consistent in being in the right place at the right time, making the catch, and we still left some things out there today, but CD definitely has been improving every week and had a good game.”

On putting an opponent away early

“Yeah, I mean, it was basically one good drive by the offense and one play by the defense, and the thing’s about over. My message all week was we need more splash plays, impact plays, plays that change a game, and we got several of them today. I think if we can keep being a little more consistent and continue to find some game-changing plays on both sides of the ball on special teams, we’re going to be competitive.”

On faster scoring drives

“Yeah, it’s year one. I would like to go fast more. Sometimes we don’t get lined up right. Sometimes the guys are a little more gassed than they would be if we were doing it all the time. It’s a process, but most of the reason we had short-time possession drives is because we hit some big plays, and if you get chunk plays, you’re not going to have the ball very long.

“When you’re battling with consistency, it’s tough to have a 14-play drive, but if you can get a chunk somewhere, there’s not enough space on the field to have a 14-play drive, and then you’re going to run fewer plays, and if you execute those, you score.

“So that’s all the stuff, the hurdles that we’re getting over right now, and hopefully we can continue evolving. But I thought the guys did a decent job with the tempo today. I’d love to see more of it.”


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