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Orlando, Fla. • About three hours after the clock struck midnight, literally and figuratively, on BYU's perfect season last Friday night, Christian Stewart lay wide awake in his bed, trying to make sense of what had just happened, how he had gone from little-known backup behind a candidate for national quarterbacking awards to the realization of a lifelong dream.
But mostly, the senior just wanted to get back out on the football field again and show detractors that the 10-for-29 passing performance, with three interceptions and no touchdowns in the 35-20 loss to Utah State, just wasn't the real Christian Stewart.
"There's nothing like that adrenaline rush, and I felt like I was starting to get in the groove of things," Stewart said.
Thanks to a quirky scheduling arrangement that calls for the Cougars (4-1) to get back at it Thursday night at 2-2 Central Florida (5:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN), Stewart will get his wish. With just two full practices to prepare and try to work out some kinks with Stewart running the offense, instead of Taysom Hill, BYU tries to rebound against the defensive-minded Knights (2-2) at Bright House Networks Stadium.
"I love it," Stewart said of the quick turnaround.
BYU coaches aren't as ecstatic.
Three other starters — linebacker Alani Fua, offensive lineman Brayden Kearsley and safety Dallin Leavitt — sustained ankle injuries against the Aggies in the loss that devastated the Cougars' plans for a dream season and are doubtful, partly due to such little time to recover. BYU made the 1,900-mile cross-country flight to Orlando on Wednesday, shortening preparation time even more.
"Man, it will be an amazing challenge, and also a good opportunity," coach Bronco Mendenhall said.
It's an opportunity that Stewart, who grew up in nearby Orem and attended Timpanogos High, dreamed would come some day, albeit under different circumstances.
"For me, this is my dream," he said. "I grew up going to BYU football games with my dad. I have always wanted to be a starting quarterback here. It is a dream come true, and now I am ready to take the helm and lead this team to victories."
It won't be easy, by any stretch. Central Florida's defense will be the stingiest the Cougars have faced, at least statistically, and is 30th in the country in allowing just 334 yards per game. Mendenhall met with Stewart one-on-one Monday morning and came away impressed.
"He is an amazing person and he is optimistic and positive and ready for his chance to lead the team," Mendenhall said.
He's all that and a poster child for perseverance, but is he capable?
After throwing for 3,518 yards and 44 touchdown passes and earning 5A All-State honors at Timpanogos in 2007, Stewart turned down offers from Colorado State, Utah State and UNLV and walked on at BYU. He returned after his freshman season and an LDS Church mission to Tokyo, Japan, but the backlog at quarterback hadn't lessened so he moved on to Snow College. As a sophomore, Stewart passed for 2,881 yards and 37 touchdowns and led the Badgers to an 11-1 record and a win in the inaugural Carrier Dome Bowl in Syracuse, N.Y.
Back at BYU in 2013, Stewart watched fellow former prep all-stater Ammon Olsen leave for Southern Utah in January of that year. Another scholarship quarterback, Billy Green, left for Weber State last May, and Stewart rose up the depth chart again. He was named Hill's backup after a solid performance in the 102-play scrimmage last March. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 68 yards in that scrimmage.
Stewart was finally awarded a scholarship in June, getting the grant-in-aid vacated by Green. He says the team has rallied around him the past five days.
"Coach Mendenhall has expressed his sincere confidence in me," Stewart said. "And he knows that I can do it, and he expressed that to the team, to everybody, that I am the guy. I am the leader of this offense now, and everyone has faith in me. It builds my confidence even more knowing that everyone around me has that confidence and I am excited to see what we do."
BYU at Central Florida
O At Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Kickoff • Thursday, 5:30 p.m. MDT
TV • ESPN. Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM
Records • BYU 4-1, UCF 2-2
Series history • BYU leads 1-0
Last meeting • BYU 24, UCF 17 (Sept. 23, 2011)
About the Knights • They are 0-2 against teams from Utah, also having lost to Utah State in 2001. … They are coming off a 17-12 win last Thursday night at Houston. This will be their second of five midweek games this season. … They are 7-3 all-time on Thursday night games.
About the Cougars • Senior Christian Stewart will start at quarterback after junior Taysom Hill suffered a broken leg in last week's loss to Utah State. … This is their fourth straight appearance on ESPN. … They are 18-2 all-time against members of the American Athletic Conference, losing only to Tulsa and Tulane.