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UCF QB Dillon Gabriel fractured clavicle on team's last-ditch lateral play against Louisville

UCF QB Dillon Gabriel is out indefinitely after he was injured on the final play of his team's loss to Louisville on Friday night.

Gabriel said on Instagram that he had a fractured clavicle and there was no timetable for his return. UCF lost 42-35 to Louisville after the Cardinals took the lead on a pick-six with 13 seconds left. UCF tried a lateral play on the last play of the game and the ball ended back up in Gabriel's hands. He was injured as he got tackled and tried to get rid of the ball.

Louisville's Jaylin Alderman scored the game-winning TD after a pass from Gabriel bounced off Amari Johnson's arms. That throw came a play after UCF got an interception on a tipped pass and appeared poised to win the game 38-35 with a late field goal.

Former Auburn and Kentucky QB Joey Gatewood will take over at QB in Gabriel's absence. Gatewood transferred from Kentucky in the offseason and was originally recruited to Auburn by current UCF coach Gus Malzahn.

Gabriel has thrown for over 8,000 yards

Gabriel has been one of the most productive QBs in college football over the last two seasons after taking over as UCF’s starter as a freshman. Gabriel threw for 3,653 yards and 29 TDs as a freshman and then was even better as a sophomore in 2020. He completed 60% of his passes and threw for 3,570 yards and 32 TDs to just four interceptions as a sophomore in 10 games in 2020.

Gabriel has been one of the most productive QBs in college football over the last two seasons after taking over as UCF’s starter as a freshman. Gabriel threw for 3,653 yards and 29 TDs as a freshman and then was even better as a sophomore in 2020. He completed 60% of his passes and threw for 3,570 yards and 32 TDs to just four interceptions as a sophomore in 10 games in 2020.

He’s 70-of-102 passing for 818 yards and nine TDs and three interceptions this season in his first in Malzahn’s offense. He accounted for all five of UCF's TDs against the Cardinals; he threw three, rushed for one and also caught a TD pass in the loss.