Photo by Irena Mesa | The Crow’s Nest
By Dominic Feo
With its odds of reaching the conference championship, initially, dim following the University of South Florida’s 34-31 loss to Memphis University on Oct. 25, the team bounced back on Nov. 6 with a resounding 55-23 win over the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Roadrunners’ quarterback Owen McCown began the game under center at Raymond James Stadium, like his father, Josh McCown, did for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In what could have been a movie-esque moment, USF’s defensive backs stole the show.
McCown’s first pass was picked off by Tavin Ward and ran back for an instant 7-0 lead.
UTSA’s offense right back out on the field, gets within two yards of the Bulls endzone, only for USF defensive back Jarvis Lee to sack McCown, and jar it loose. Fred Gaskin swooped in to recover the ball before it ever touched the turf and went the other way for a 98-yard scoop and score.
The back-to-back touchdowns by USF’s defense gave the Bulls a 14-point lead before the offense ever saw the field. Once UTSA’s third drive ended with a 33-yard field goal, USF’s well-rested offense began its first drive with just over two minutes left in the first quarter.
USF kept its first drive on the ground with quarterback Byrum Brown and running back Nykahi Davenport taking turns running through the Roadrunners until Brown took a fake quarterback sneak 13 yards to the endzone. Brown’s rushing touchdown gave the Bulls a 21-3 lead with zero passing yards to that point.
Brown finished the game with over 100 rushing yards for the fourth time this season. Davenport finished his first career start with career highs in rushing yards (94) and touchdowns (2).
UTSA’s run game, however, was not as effective. UTSA running back Robert Henry Jr. leads the American Conference in rushing yards but finished the game with just 27.
After McCown threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to tight end Patrick Overmyer on the ensuing drive, USF scored 24 more points before halftime.
Brown completed all nine of his pass attempts in the first half, two of them to wide receiver Keshaun Singleton for touchdowns of 16 and 40 yards respectively.
USF’s last ten points were scored in the third quarter. Nico Gramatica’s 51-yard field goal was the sophomore’s fifth career kick over 50 yards, a new program record.
The Bulls’ win gained more importance when Memphis University lost 38-32 to Tulane University the next day. A week after beating USF, Memphis’s conference championship and College Football Playoff aspirations were dashed.
USF achieved its first ever College Football Playoff Ranking (24) on Nov. 11; no other team in a Group of Five conference ranked higher.
Now back in the driver’s seat for the 12-seed of the CFP awarded to the best G5 program, USF will attempt to maintain its newly regained spot when the Bulls travel to Annapolis, Maryland, to face the United States Naval Academy on Nov 15.
