USF’s valiant effort gives Bulls fans a spark of hope for the future of the program.
Courtesy of Max Steele | The Crow’s Nest
By Max Steele
The Bulls silenced a jam-packed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium crowd when the team took a 28-24 lead over the No. 18 University of Florida (UF) football team early in the fourth quarter, but miscues and botched plays thwarted the valiant effort that ultimately resulted in a 31-28 loss against the state rival.
Despite a nationally ranked opponent, roaring Gainesville crowd of over 88,000 fans and nearly every critic doubting them, USF stood strong under pressure last Saturday night and showcased its ability to go the distance with a top 20 team.
The Bulls’ first drive resulted in a fumble turnover, and many fans feared they might have to relive a similar story to the 51-21 blowout delivered by No. 25 BYU in the season opener. But USF decided to write a new tale, and delivered the first touchdown of the game just a few minutes later with a Brian Battie rush and ended the first quarter on top 7-3 with over 100 yards on the ground.
The Gators re–energized during the break and came back with the vengeance they lacked in last week’s loss to No. 8 Kentucky. UF stacked on three touchdowns and field goal in the second quarter, including a 62-yard rushing touchdown and a pick-six that overshadowed the Bulls’ two field goals.
USF went down into halftime 24-13, but the players’ heads didn’t.
Bulls’ linebacker Dwayne Bowles struck first in the second half with an interception on UF’s initial drive and returned it to the 18-yard line, which set up a 6-yard rushing touchdown for quarterback Gerry Bohanon and a two-point conversion pass to receiver Xavier Weaver. The Gators’ lead narrowed to 24-21 at end the third quarter.
With a little over 11 minutes left in the game, the Bulls executed a demanding 51-yard drive down the field and regained the lead for the first time since the first quarter with a leaping endzone dive from Michel Dukes to put USF ahead 28-24.
UF got the ball back and drove down to the other side of the field in similar fashion, but USF cornerback Aamaris Brown ruined the Gators’ touchdown plans with a goal line interception.
The Bulls seemingly had the game under control with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Bohanon threw an off-balance lob that resulted in his second interception of the night and set the Gators up within scoring distance, in which UF capitalized on and punched in the game-winning touchdown.
Bohanon and his USF offense quickly responded with a last-minute drive, but a botched snap on third down pushed the Bulls’ field goal attempt back to 48 yards. USF kicker Spencer Shrader had been perfect on the night, including a 49-yarder, but missed the tying kick after the hold was dropped before he kicked it.
The Bulls showed their steady work is starting to pay off and gave fans a spark of something to look forward to throughout the rest of the season.
USF plays next on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Louisville, who is coming off a 35-31 loss against Florida State University.
