UCF WR Josh Derry Reflects on Upset Win Over No. 2 BYU

Wild game, can you just kind of talk me through your initial reactions and your emotions after beating number two BYU? Yeah, it's one of those things as a football player you kind of dream of. You come out to the win over a ranked team, you know, people rushing the field. Everybody's excited, it's a great feeling, a great moment. Have you ever been involved in a field storming? And if not, what was this one like for you? I've never been involved in one, and honestly, it was insane. I can say everybody, one minute, you're running on the field happy, and and you look over and you have thousands of fans rushing you. It definitely is a surreal feeling for sure. You made multiple big plays in this game. Just how gratifying was it to see out the final play it all paid off? Yeah, you know, we always talk about doing our job every day, every play, and I stepped up in the moment and got the job done. Gotta ask you, what are the immediate emotions after seeing the incomplete pass? Thank you, God. Obviously, you're sitting there on the sideline, you're really just hoping that this game doesn't keep going and we ended there and we finished it. Why were you so affected? I would say preparation. Practice, we worked really hard. Coach Frost talked about, you know, we've been doing good, you know, the first six games, but we have to give a little bit more. So just really giving all in that field today, you know, to cut the window. Did you see that give a little bit more payoff when you think you can use that now in the second half? Absolutely, absolutely. I think, you know, we got the job done, you know, guys are just really selling out on everything. You know, everybody's trying to make the play. Josh, you're somebody that obviously works a lot with the feet more. I have to ask, how much better did he play than you? Yeah, he was great. He was poised, and I think he's been great every game. With this game, obviously, I understood, you know, learning from all the mistakes and all the small things that went wrong in the first five minutes for him. And I went to the game, and he was just sharp. Tyron Ward had six catches, 137 yards, a few big plays in particular where he bounced off I went down the sideline, he got his first start in this game. What have you seen over the course of six weeks where he becomes such an integral part of what you guys did in the passing game? Yeah, real growth, somebody that's really confident. The first time we stepped in here, and somebody that you can say a word to him. And he was ready for that opportunity and to take advantage of it. What was it like going through that moment at the end of the game? I think a lot of people wondering what was going on. So what was it like down there for you just seeing Will come back and Yeah, it was one of those moments that you kind of just question football for a minute, you're like trying to think about a rule, you're like, well, what just happened, but the ref made a decision and we got to keep playing ball. You're one of the older members of the team. Teams coming off a couple of really tough losses that come by. How did that opportunity for you to be a leader and help get this team ready for this game? Yeah, I understand you got to take one game at a time. Really, you've got our last guaranteed six games. That's for some guys until the next season. So you really want to take advantage of every game. You understand you've got to sell out every play if you really want to get to where you want to get to. What can you say about the togetherness that Scott Frost creates with him, his culture, his team, and just what he's been as a leader, especially on a night like tonight? It's been amazing. This is really a family from the start. We all trust in each other. We trust in Coach Frost, trust in all the coaches to get this job done and to lead us in the right direction. How do you avoid a game, you've got Baylor on Friday, short lead. How do you avoid a let down, because it's a big emotional win for you guys. But you get short lead, how do you avoid that let down? Yeah, you celebrate for 24 hours and then you move on. That's a part of the game. Can't let one game, obviously keep the momentum going throughout the game. but not let that emotion drag on and try to let down. How do you deal with this, emotions of how you're going to move on? Yeah, I think it's a reminder to show how good we are as a team. our togetherness and how hard we can play to win the big game. First play of second overtime for you guys, chances to respond. Keyon Jenkins gets out of trouble finding the back of the end zone. How was that for you? Yeah, it was amazing. I was really, really hoping he saw me in the end zone, and he got it to me, and we got the touchdown. What kind of adversity, seeing him go through that play, kind of the adversity he's gone through since time started for the UCF? Because what does that say about his character? Yeah, he's a tough player, tough player. I was getting out of the pocket, was collapsing on him, and keep his eyes downfield to see a touchdown there.