- USF Takes Alabama To The Limit In 17-3 Loss
- USF, McClain Roll To First Win of the Season
- Bobby Bowden dies: Legendary coach built Florida State into college football powerhouse
- ECU hammers USF for first win of season
- Mike Brosseau’s HR off Aroldis Chapman Lifts Rays Past Yankees in ALDS Game 5
- Tom Brady Purchasing $7.5 Million Mansion
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT Vita Vea has broken ankle, likely out for season
- Tampa Bay Lightning have placed Tyler Johnson on Waivers
- USF football excited to bring fans back to Raymond James Stadium this weekend
- Tampa Bay Lightning Win Stanley Cup
USF saves its best for last; Bulls one win away from a bowl game
- Updated: November 8, 2015
Just when it appeared the game had transformed from domination to abomination, the University of South Florida Bulls pulled out a monumental victory on Saturday night.
Pulling within one win of bowl eligibility, the Bulls rallied for a 22-17 triumph against the East Carolina Pirates at soggy Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
It was a roller-coaster of emotions, going from an apparent exhilarating victory to a possible crushing defeat, then finally a potentially season-saving rally.
For USF (5-4, 3-2 AAC), the winning margin was provided by a 67-yard pass from sophomore Quinton Flowers to wide-open Rodney Adams with 4:40 remaining, culminating a three-play, 85-yard drive. Adams had four catches for 95 yards.
“We kept working and kept fighting,’’ Flowers said. “I got a little frustrated because we made some mistakes. But when we needed to make a play, we did it.’’
After beginning the season 1-3, USF has won four of its past five games.
ECU (4-6, 2-4) appeared to get a first down on Summers’ run on fourth-and-7 to the USF 39-yard line with 2:50 remaining, but the play was negated by a holding penalty. The Pirates were forced to punt and USF iced it away with sophomore running back Marlon Mack (26 carries, 116 yards), who had his fifth 100-yard rushing game this season.
Despite holding ECU to 26 total yards and zero first downs in the first half, the Bulls were unable to pull away, despite a statistically lopsided start.
USF can qualify for its first bowl appearance since 2010 next Saturday when it hosts Temple, the AAC’s East Division leader. The Bulls finish against Cincinnati (Nov. 20) and Central Florida (Thanksgiving night).
USF’s critical game-changing sequence occurred in the second quarter.
The Bulls, leading 9-0 yet allowing the Pirates to hang around, appeared to pull away when Flowers scored on a 1-yard run. But the play was negated by an illegal-formation penalty and USF turned to beleaguered place-kicker Emilio Nadelman, who shanked a 23-yard field-goal attempt.
On USF’s next drive, with a personal-foul penalty on Tye Turner helping to place the Bulls in a third-and-23 situation, sophomore running back D’Ernest Johnson fumbled and ECU’s Yiannis Bowden recovered at the USF 7-yard line.
Pirates quarterback James Summers scored on the next play, cutting USF’s lead to 9-7. It was extended to 12-7 on Nadelman’s 36-yard field goal, but that hardly seemed secure after ECU’s first-half struggles.
The Pirates took their first lead, 14-12, on Summers’ 3-yard run with 5:08 remaining in the third quarter. It was set up by a pass interference call on USF’s Ronnie Hoggins during a third-and-8 play.
Nadelman helped USF reclaim a 15-14 advantage on a 39-yard field goal with 12:21 remaining. But ECU place-kicker Davis Plowman gave the lead back to the Pirates, 17-15, on a 41-yard field goal with 9:53 remaining. ECU’s drive was highlighted by Summers’ 39-yard slant pass to Brandon Bishop.
The Bulls scored the game’s first touchdown on Flowers’ 7-yard pass to senior tight end Sean Price, who collected his first touchdown since 2012, his freshman season. Price had four receptions for 56 yards.
Flowers rushed 21 times for 79 yards, while passing 12 for 23 with 200 yards and two touchdowns.
