Photos courtesy of USF Athletics
“You have three turnovers in the first quarter, it’s going to be hard to beat anybody,” Alex Golesh said post-game. USF, however, did just that, forcing five turnovers of their own in a 63-36 win over North Texas.
Just looking at the score, it is hard to believe USF fumbled the ball away on its first two possessions.
The first was forced by an unblocked blitzer who stripped the ball from quarterback Byrum Brown, setting up North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker at midfield. The former walk-on used his arm to drive down the field and his legs to cap off the drive with a 2-yard scamper to put his team on the board.
USF’s second fumble was a botched handoff between Brown and running back Nykahi Davenport. Again, at midfield, North Texas reached the USF14, but Bulls linebacker Jhalyn Shuler lurked a pass for Mestemakers’ first interception of the season.
Brown, who ran for a career-high 162 yards against Charlotte, looked to be at a similar pace, gaining 44 rushing yards on USF’s next drive. His last run was a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game.
After North Texas made the score 14-7 with a 23-yard touchdown run by running back Makenzie McGill II, Brown ended the first quarter with an interception.
North Texas failed to capitalize, punting back to USF after a three-and-out. Brown threw a 14-yard touchdown to freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Koger on the ensuing drive.
Facing fourth down at the USF11, North Texas wide receiver Wyatt Young motioned into the backfield at quarterback and punched it in to put the Mean Green back on top.
Just under a minute from halftime, North Texas muffed a punt. Four plays later, USF was just 2 yards away from the endzone. USF receiving the ball in the second half gave USF two options. Kick a field goal and enter the second half down four or attempt to tie the game.
USF chose the latter. Brown faked a handoff, leaving tight end Jonathan Echols wide open. His third career touchdown catch evened the score at 21 a piece.
After an unconventional, first half, the second went completely off the rails, subverting any expectations of how the game could pan out.
Just one minute into the third quarter, USF wide receiver Christian Neptune hurried to the backfield before a snap and took a handoff. It is hard to imagine that North Texas was expecting Neptune to then look up and throw the ball into orbit, falling into the arms of receiver Keshaun Singleton, who took it 29 yards to the house.
Two plays after a third interception from Mestemaker, USF running back Sam Franklin ran in an 11-yard touchdown. Fifty seconds later, a North Texas receiver caught a pass near the line of scrimmage before getting leveled by USF cornerback Jarvis Lee.
The ball popped out, and Shuler was there to scoop it up. A week prior, North Texas cancelled afternoon classes to sell out DACTU Stadium for the first time in program history.
Shuler taunted every North Texas fan in attendance, jogging across nearly the entire length of the goal line before stepping into the endzone for USF’s fourth touchdown in three and a half minutes of game time.
It took less than five minutes into the second half for USF to double its point total from the first. A 54-yard touchdown catch from North Texas receiver Miles Coleman, followed by a 63-yard touchdown reception by Koger, brought the combined point total in the third quarter to 42.
In a game defined by unorthodox moments, the most defining happened with 13 minutes left in the fourth. Offensive lineman Cole Skinner lined up at fullback, took a handoff on the goal line for the first Bulls touchdown scored by an offensive lineman since 2010.
One more rushing touchdown from Brown made the final score 63-36. Brown totaled the game with 327 yards and five scores. USF has now run for over 300 yards in consecutive games and scored 50+ in its last three.
Several USF defenders made their presence felt for all four quarters. Shuler’s interception and fumble recovery touchdown were accompanied by 8 tackles. The only USF defender with more tackles was safety Tavin Ward, who racked up a career-high 14.
“It’s all a mindset. We have to come in the games expecting to win,” Ward said.
ESPN’s College Football Playoff Predictor determined that USF’s performance increases its playoff chances from 11 to 18 percent.
USF will hope to raise that number against Florida Atlantic University for its Oct. 18 Homecoming at Raymond James Stadium.
