It’s been a long time coming.
It wasn’t a full 60-minute effort for the South Florida Bulls. They played well in stretches but ultimately it came down to survival in their 26-20 win against the Cincinnati BearCats.
“It’s about putting together four quarters of winning football,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “Our guys don’t give up. They got sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
The BearCats who had only six first downs through the first three quarters turned it around and gained 15 first downs in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati made the game a one-score contest with 2:02 left after Brandon Kay connected with Mekale McKay for the second time in the game.
On their previous drive, the BearCats had the ball fourth and inches on the USF nine-yard line. The Bulls’ defense made a stop when it needed one the most.
The Bulls swallowed up Cincinnati’s Tion Green and forced a turnover on downs. It was a killer for the momentum the BearCats were building.
Mark Joyce and DeDe Lattimore led the Bulls defense. Joyce intercepted two passes by Kay and Lattimore returned a fumble for a touchdown. Joyce finished the game with 7 total tackles.
The attempted comeback by the BearCats started in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati cut the lead in half with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Moore. Moore found himself wide open for a 27-yard touchdown from Kay.
It really should have been a disaster for the Bulls. Given the way the season has unfolded there wasn’t much else to be expected from the winless and lifeless Bulls.
On the second play of the game Marcus Shaw had the ball stripped by Cincinnati’s Jeff Luc. Luc instantly recovered the fumble by grabbing it out of mid air.
“When things haven’t gone our way we haven’t responded well,” said Taggart. “Our guys responded the right way.”
The Bulls offense had given up seven scores on turnovers and put the defense with a short field to their back almost as many times.
Unrelenting the Bulls defense forced the BearCats to kick a field goal. The 40-yard attempt was blocked by tight end Mike McFarland and returned 75 yards for a touchdown by Nate Goodwin. It was only the second time all season the Bulls led in a game.
On Cincinnati’s next possession a pass from quarterback Brandon Kay sailed over the middle of the field and was an easy interception for Mark Joyce. Joyce returned the ball 15 yards. USF turned the turnover into a 25-yard field goal for Marvin Kloss.
Kloss had a career game against Cincinnati. In addition to the 25-yard kick, Kloss kicked a career-long 52-yard field goal. For Kloss it was a career best and the fourth longest field goal in USF history. He would boot another field goal in the first half and add a fourth in the third quarter.
In the process of all that the Bulls lost Bench and Shaw to injuries. By the end of the game, Bench was in sweats limping around the sideline. Taggart had no update on either player after the game.
Bobby Eveld replaced Bench and looked better than he had all season. Eveld connected for 10 passes on 16 attempts for 122 yards. He looked more comfortable than ever managing the offense.
“They say you are only one snap away,” Eveld said. “That’s how I prepare.”
The win was the Bulls their first in the American Conference. The Bulls will travel next to East Hartford, Conn. to face Connecticut.
Featured image courtesy of USF Athletics.
