Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
The University of South Florida Bulls closed off its season with a dramatic 41-39 win over San Jose State in a five-overtime thriller at the Hawai’i Bowl on Christmas Eve.
Played at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, the game lasted over four hours, starting at 8:00 p.m. and ending at 12:24 a.m. EST.
The game featured nail-biting action that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. The matchup also made history as the first NCAA bowl game to surpass three overtimes, holding the record for two days until Toledo vs Pittsburgh surpassed the record by going into six overtimes in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
USF started strong, opening the scoring with running back Nay’Quan Wright’s 3-yard touchdown run and extending their lead to 14-0 with running back Kelley Joiner’s 4-yard rushing touchdown. San Jose State responded late in the second quarter when running back Floyd Chalk IV scored on a 3-yard run.
However, USF answered immediately as running back Ta’Ron Keith electrified the crowd with a 93-yard kickoff return, putting the Bulls ahead 21-7. The Spartans managed to close the gap slightly with a field goal before halftime, making it 21-10.
Head coach Alex Golesh praised Keith’s athleticism saying “Ta’Ron Keith did a great job, that whole unit. The scheme was good and I thought we needed it [Keith’s touchdown], especially at that time to gain momentum back”.
The second half saw San Jose State claw its way back into the game.
Kicker Kyler Halvorsen hit two field goals and tight end Jackson Canaan caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Walker Eget to give the Spartans a 27-24 lead. With just two seconds left in regulation, USF kicker John Cannon nailed a 41-yard field goal to tie the game at 27-27, sending it into the first overtime of the game.
What followed was a battle that extended through five overtime periods.
Keith scored on a 2-yard run in the first overtime, but San Jose State answered with a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Matthew Coleman. Both teams exchanged field goals in successive overtimes, including a vital 36-yarder from Cannon to keep USF alive.
Finally, in the fifth overtime, Cannon delivered the game-winning field goal, and the Bulls’ defense held firm. Linebacker Mac Harris stood strong, closing out the game by blocking and denying the Spartans a final score.
“I was really proud of our guys, really proud of our seniors, and just really proud of the entire group. I thought so many guys contributed today and it is a really good way to finish the season,” Golesh said.
Despite managing only 291 yards of total offense, USF excelled on special teams and defense, which proved critical in such a tight contest. Keith’s 93-yard kickoff return touchdown and Cannon’s clutch field goals were key moments in securing the win.
Cannon’s stellar performance earned him the Hawaii Bowl MVP award. He was instrumental throughout the game, nailing four field goals, including the game-winner, and keeping USF in contention during the tense overtime periods.
Additionally, wide receiver Sean Atkins added a historic milestone to the night, finishing with 11 receptions for 104 yards. Atkins surpassed Andre Davis (2011-14) to become the Bulls’ all-time leader in career receiving yards, setting a new mark of 2,167 yards.
With this victory, the Bulls secured back-to-back winning seasons and bowl victories, marking a significant milestone for the program.
