Photo by Alex Felski | The Crow’s Nest
By Dominic Feo
The University of South Florida’s offense, defense and special teams all contributed points towards the team’s 59-7 win over South Carolina State to end the Bulls non-conference schedule at 3-1.
Despite S.C. State’s offense being on the field for 27 more minutes, USF put up 49 more points for the Bulls largest margin of victory in program history.
USF’s defense got the party started on the game’s opening drive. S.C. State reached USF’s five-yard line, but sixth-year linebacker Mac Harris intercepted an errant pass, running it back 93 yards for the longest pick-six in program history.
Harris also finished the game with 10 total tackles and a career-high two sacks.
“Mac has been the standard for us for four weeks,” said head coach Alex Golesh during the post-game press conference. “I’m really proud of Mac. We need him to continue to get better and continue to plug, but his best football continues to be ahead of him.”
Facing an FCS opponent was the perfect opportunity for USF to get younger players valuable experience. Four sophomores reached the endzone for the Bulls.
Four-star tight end Jonathan Echols (22 yards) and wide receiver Joshua Porter (26 yards) caught touchdowns on back-to-back drives in the second quarter. In the third, running back Nykahi Davenport broke off a 43-yard run and linebacker Ashton Mosley scored USF’s touchdown off a blocked punt since 2011.
Senior receiver Chas Nimrod and graduate running back Sam Franklin scored twice each.
In his second straight game with over 100 receiving yards, Nimrod’s two touchdown catches (42 and 22 yards) were a career best. In the few months that the Tennessee transfer has been in Tampa Bay, he has already built rapport with star quarterback Byrum Brown.
“[Brown] had invited me to go throw with him over a break that we had [in the offseason],” Nimrod said. “From there on out, I kind of knew that we were going to have a good relationship.”
Franklin, who had not rushed for more than 10 yards in a game so far this season, finished the day with 91 on just four carries. Franklin is used to running through FCS schools, rushing for 2,129 yards and 20 touchdowns in three seasons at UT-Martin.
After the bye week, USF will begin American Conference play against the Charlotte 49ers on Oct. 3. With two ranked wins to open the season, a conference title could earn USF its first ever appearance in the College Football Playoffs.
