ORLANDO, Florida - With UCF football's undefeated campaign and a shot at the College Football Playoff on the line, head coach Josh Heupel made one of the most critical play calls of his tenure thus far.

• UCF trailed by multiple scores, but held Memphis scoreless in second half
• Milton registered two touchdowns on the afternoon
• Knights play East Carolina this coming week

“He was all in the whole time. He didn’t wanna punt. I heard him say, 'let’s go bone here,'" quarterback McKenzie Milton said Monday.

It was fourth down, inside the Knights' own territory. That's when Heupel chose to give the ball to running back Taj McGowan, who took the ball 71 yards to the end zone. The score gave UCF much-needed momentum, enough to climb back against Memphis and earn a 31-30 win Saturday.

“Big plays like that, whether it’s a long touchdown or just a conversion itself. Those are momentum plays, and you have an opportunity to create momentum, it certainly did for us," Heupel said.

“Inside a game, there’s always gutsy play calls. There’s always things that can kind of flip the script of a game,” Milton said.

He would know. The 21-year-old took the ball seven yards on his own, leaping past the goal line in the fourth quarter and putting his body on the line to give the Knight the go-ahead score. It was a Heisman reel-caliber play, and one he had no doubt he would have to make.

"In a situation like that, you’ve got to put it on the line," he said.

Heupel had no issues with it the "gutsy" call himself.

“I’ve got confidence in him, and really trust him with the ball in his hands," Heupel said. "Just because of how he prepares, and how smart he is. He recognizes things. “

UCF will travel to East Carolina with its undfeated slate in tact this coming Saturday.