Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
On Saturday, the University of South Florida Bulls beat the UAB Blazers 35-25 at Raymond James Stadium thanks to a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback.
After a challenging start, the Bulls demonstrated grit, rallying from a 19-7 deficit to secure a hard-fought victory.
Head coach Alex Golesh was grateful for the support of the fans in a city still recovering from its devastating times.
“I’m so appreciative for our fans that came out. I appreciate [those] that decided to spend their Saturday afternoon at Ray Jay, and our guys certainly appreciate it,” Golesh said.
The game was a see-saw affair that was marked by “sloppiness” until the fourth quarter when USF’s defense flipped the game on its head with consecutive turnovers.
“Really sloppy game all the way up until the fourth quarter. Our defense forced back-to-back turnovers. the offense got some Mojo going,” Golesh pointed out.
The offense found rhythm and executed crucial plays, including a pivotal touchdown run by Kelley Joiner Jr. that brought the score to 35-25 with 6:17 left on the clock.
The turnaround was influenced by quarterback Bryce Archie, who had his chance to shine after waiting two and half years.
“I waited two and a half years to finally come out and show everyone what I can do and how good a quarterback I can be. finally get the first one under my belt and now we have to do this every week,” said Archie.
The leadership on the field was evident in Archie’s charge as he rallied his teammates during a rocky game.
A second-half 33-yard rushing score by Joiner sealed the lead in the performance marked by key plays from USF.
Golesh praised the defensive line, including Micheal Williams II, who suffered injuries throughout the game.
With the win, USF goes into a bye week feeling confident for their next game against Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton this Friday, Nov 1 at 7:30 p.m.
