UCF needs Hail Mary on final play to nullify East Carolina rally

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.