Game recap: John Rhys Plumlee's 28-yard TD run propels UCF's win over Georgia Tech

The UCF Knights welcome in their second ACC opponent in three weeks, hungry to treat their fans to a big win in the program's first Saturday home date of the fall.

UCF meets Georgia Tech, an opponent whom they handled 49-21 two seasons ago in Atlanta. Dillon Gabriel tossed four touchdowns for the then-No. 14 Knights as they blitzed the Yellow Jackets for 660 yards of total offense.

UCF (2-1) turned in a terrific second half to pull away from upset-minded Florida Atlantic last week in a 40-14 victory. The Knights limited FAU to 18 yards after halftime; John Rhys Plumlee, Isaiah Bowser and RJ Harvey rushed for touchdowns in the victory.

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech (1-2, 0-1 ACC) is hoping to shake off a 42-0 home loss at the hands of Ole Miss. Fourth-year head coach Geoff Collins is under tremendous pressure, considering his 10-27 career record and the Yellow Jackets' lack of competitiveness in the ACC.

Follow updates from Daytona Beach News-Journal reporter Chris Boyle down below.

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6:55 p.m. | John Rhys Plumlee runs for crucial UCF TD

UCF's offense finally broke out of its funk, aided by a pair of 15-yard Georgia Tech penalties, as John Rhys Plumlee sprinted for a 28-yard touchdown to pad the Knights' lead to 24-10 with 10:37 left.

Plumlee has had a tough afternoon as a passer — 7 of 14 for 43 yards and an interception — but he leads the team with 83 rushing yards on 15 carries.

Georgia Tech holds the edge in total yards, 373-258, but the Yellow Jackets have been stymied four times in the red zone. It's hardly a surprise, considering the team's rankings in Division I FBS entering the day — 121st in scoring, and 126th in total yards per game.

6:40 p.m. | Bizarre two-fumble play leads to Tech FG

Well, there's something you don't see every day.

Georgia Tech appeared poised to take advantage of a short punt with a quick scoring drive, but Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste rocked Jeff Sims to force a fumble at the 10-yard line. Tre'mon Morris-Brash scooped up the ball and rumbled 89 yards — only to be tracked down and stripped by Yellow Jackets wide receiver Nate McCollum. The ball went out of the end zone, resulting in a touchback and Georgia Tech possession.

Sims engineered a seven-play, 56-yard drive that resulted in Jude Kelley's 42-yard field goal. UCF leads 16-10 at the end of three quarters.

6:05 p.m. | Colton Boomer makes 3rd FG for UCF

UCF's placekicking woes appear to be solved.

Colton Boomer made his third kick of the day, a 37-yarder, to extend the Knights' lead to 16-7 with 9:44 left in the third quarter.

The Knights produced a nine-play, 55-yard drive to set up the Boomer field goal — highlighted by 15-yard runs for John Rhys Plumlee and RJ Harvey.

Georgia Tech went three-and-out on its first possession out of halftime.

5:20 p.m. | UCF reclaims lead with blocked punt TD

UCF got a much-needed jolt before halftime, courtesy of its special teams unit.

Jarvis Ware blocked a punt, and Quadric Bullard scooped it up for a 29-yard touchdown with 35 seconds left in the second quarter. The Knights are back in front of Georgia Tech, 13-7.

The Knights' offense has been inefficient to say the least, averaging 3.9 yards per play. John Rhys Plumlee is 5-of-11 passing for 41 yards and an interception.

5:05 p.m. | Jeff Sims' long TD pass gives Jackets the lead

Perhaps it's too early to panic, but perhaps not.

Jeff Sims found Malachi Carter in stride for a 59-yard touchdown pass to give Georgia Tech a 7-3 lead over UCF with 5:54 left in the second quarter.

UCF marched 71 yards on its first drive, but has 22 on its last two possessions.

4:45 p.m. | John Rhys Plumlee tosses ugly pick near the end zone

Georgia Tech came up empty on its first drive when Jude Kelley shanked a 32-yard field goal wide left. UCF failed to capitalize, though, as John Rhys Plumlee tossed an ugly interception to LaMiles Brooks on a deep shot for Ryan O'Keefe.

Plumlee is 3 of 7 for 7 yards at the 12:26 mark of the second quarter. The Knights have gained 95 rushing yards on 23 attempts.

4:25 p.m. | Long UCF opening drive ends with field goal

UCF drained more than 9 minutes off the clock on its opening possession, but settled for a 21-yard field goal by Colton Boomer to take a 3-0 lead on Georgia Tech.

The Knights methodically marched 71 yards in 20 plays, converting a pair of fourth downs.

Isaiah Bowser leads the rushing attack with 27 yards on six attempts. John Rhys Plumlee misfired on both of his passing attempts.

4 p.m. | Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste active for UCF

Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste returns to the UCF starting lineup after missing last week's trip to Florida Atlantic to a reported knee injury.

Jean-Baptiste, a senior linebacker, participated in pre-game warmups and joined fellow captains Isaiah Bowser, Ryan O'Keefe and Samuel Jackson for the coin toss.

Jason Johnson and Walter Yates started in Jean-Baptiste's absence against FAU.

2:30 p.m. | Kobe Hudson expected to return for UCF

UCF will take on Georgia Tech in its first Saturday home game, and final non-conference matchup, of the season at 4 p.m. Saturday.

And there will be a welcome addition to the receiving corps as Kobe Hudson is expected to return after a two-game absence due to "personal reasons," per head coach Gus Malzahn.

Hudson is yet to make his first catch for the Knights, but he was Auburn's leading receiver in 2021. He caught 44 balls for 580 yards and four touchdowns.

He's listed among the starters on the depth chart with Javon Baker and Ryan O'Keefe.

Wide receiver Amari Johnson (ankle) are among the notable inactives for the Knights.

Tight end Jordan Davis — the younger brother of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis — is set to miss an extended period of time, Malzahn said during Monday's press conference, after an injury suffered on the opening kickoff of last week's game at Florida Atlantic.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Live score: UCF Knights football vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets