Photos courtesy of Alex Felski | The Crow’s Nest
By Dominic Feo
To match the game’s “Flashback Friday” theme, the University of South Florida began conference play with an old-school win, hosting Charlotte at the Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 3. USF leaned on the run game and defense to make up for offensive turnovers that head coach Alex Golesh could only describe as disappointing.
“I was really disappointed, certainly in the ball being on the ground,” Golesh said. “You can justify it however you want, but I think if you justify it, you’re making excuses and that’s the fastest way to get beat.”
USF’s offense turned the ball over four times with two interceptions and fumbles lost, but the defense forced two fumbles and interceptions of their own. In Charlotte’s first eight drives, the Bulls defense held them to just 13 total yards.
After rushing for a program-record 425 yards against Charlotte in 2024, USF ran for a season-high 407 on Friday. Star quarterback Byrum Brown accounted for 162, a career best. Brown also ran for a 13-yard score, his first on the ground since Week 1.
“Byrum is one of the best runners of the football at the quarterback position that I have ever been around,” Golesh said during the post-game press conference. “He’s a special carrier of the football.”
The remaining rushing yards can be credited to running backs, Cartevious Norton, Alvon Issac, Sam Franklin and Nykahi Davenport. Norton, a Charlotte transfer, broke off a 37-yard touchdown run on the game’s opening drive.
Norton would leave the game in the fourth quarter, however, after suffering an upper body injury in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Norton was taken to Tampa General Hospital as a precautionary measure and was released on Oct. 5.
“You never want to see that. As a dad and, certainly, as his coach, it’s an eerie deal, but praying that everything is alright and God’s hands are all over him,” Golesh said.
With Norton sidelined indefinitely, USF will look to the other three backs to make up for Norton’s absence. USF may see an increased workload for Davenport, who ran for a career-high 79 yards.
“Every time [Davenport] has gotten an opportunity to carry the football, he’s shown that he’s deserving to carry it more,” Golesh said. “He’s a redshirt freshman but he doesn’t carry the ball like a young guy.”
Brown threw four touchdown passes, with two of them coming in the first quarter to wide receivers, Jeremiah Koger and Mudia Reuben. Both touchdowns were the first for both receivers as Bulls.
The Bulls, now with a record of 4-1 (1-0 in conference) on the season, will travel outside of the state for the first time so far to play 5-0 North Texas University on Oct. 10. With potential playoff implications. North Texas announced on Oct. 1 that classes after 12 p.m. will be cancelled in an effort to pack the stadium.
