Photo courtesy of usffootball on Instagram
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
The University of Alabama defeated the South Florida Bulls 42-16 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night. While USF lost, the team’s resilience was put to the test against the nationally ranked team.
The first field goal of the game was made by USF’s John Cannon from 34 yards out. Alabama responded quickly, and even with Jalen Milroe running for a 10-yard touchdown run, USF remained competitive. Thanks to a 25-yard field goal by Cannon in the second quarter, the Bulls briefly led 6-7.
“We came in with a game plan and executed it well in the first half,” said head coach Alex Golesh. “Our defense was disciplined, and we were able to put ourselves in a position to compete.”
Milroe continued his impressive performance, connecting with Kobe Prentice for a 16-yard touchdown pass. This play marked the beginning of a dominant second half for Alabama.
In the Tide’s 28-point third quarter, Milroe threw a 43-yard pass to Ryan Williams and Jamarion Miller had a 56-yard run to set up the score. Runner Justice Haynes scored on a 29-yard run to cap off Alabama’s impressive second half.
Despite the defeat, several USF players made notable contributions.
Ta’Ron Keith stood out with his 35 rushing yards and a 2-yard touchdown run. USF briefly led after John Cannon made three field goals, including a crucial 25-yarder.
Coach Golesh discussed the takeaways from playing a top-tier opponent like Alabama in his post-game interview.
“This game was a great measuring stick for us,” Golesh remarked. “We obviously need to get better at both depth and execution, particularly in the second half of games. However, we also demonstrated that we are capable of competing with the best, and we can build on that.”
As the Bulls regroup, their next challenge comes with an added layer of significance. The Bulls take on Southern Miss this Saturday, Sept. 14 at M.M Roberts Stadium. In the following week, USF will return home to play the University of Miami for Parents Weekend, on Sept. 21.
