Image courtesy of USF
USF went to war on Saturday with the Navy Midshipmen in Annapolis, Maryland to take home the win 44-30.
This game ended the road loss streak for the Bulls and now is 2-0 for wins in conference play. South Florida’s performance after the victory to the Navy landed them in the first-place spot of the American Athletic Conference.
At the start of the game, the Bulls had a few crucial mistakes and only one penalty in the game.
“Having a next play mentality allows you to move on,” Coach Golesh said in the post-game conference.
A drop on a punt return to Sean Atkins turned into a fumble just after the game begun.
“It was a mistake that he doesn’t make often and he knows that,” Quarter Back Byrum Brown said in the post-game press conference.
Regardless of the mistake, the next play mentality installed by Golesh kicked in.
Atkins changed his narrative with two big plays in the first half.
The wide receiver scored two touchdowns, with one from Brown passing the fourth longest pass in USF history with 88 yards.
Brown grows further in the pocket for improvement in his first game as a 19-year-old, despite receiving four sacks in the game.
Brown still brought the Bulls three touchdowns on the road and passed for 338 yards.
Instead of seeing Brown showing off on foot, we saw the proficiency of the birthday boy’s arm as he made plays to receivers.
Wide Receiver Michael Brown-Stevens had his first USF touchdown catch from Brown in the second half of the game to bring on a 30-23 lead for the Bulls.
The pressure by USF defense went unnoticed resulting in points for USF.
Line Backer Jhalyn Shuler scored two-points on a bad snap from the Midshipman and had seven tackles in the game.
Navy then dropped the snap for a second time in the start of the fourth quarter, resulting in Defensive End Tramel Logan to pick up the fumble to bring in a 70-yard touchdown to make the score 37-23.
South Florida sealed the win after Running Back Michael Dukes rushed an 11-yard touchdown to make the score 44-23.
Navy put up one more touch down on the board, but still fell short of the win at their home field 44-30.
The Bulls will be on the road to play University of Alabama of Birmingham next Saturday before returning home on Oct. 14 to play Florida Atlantic University.
