GREENVILLE, N.C. — South Florida needed one more stop Friday night after pulling even in the fourth quarter. East Carolina drove from its own 14 in the final 1:42, and Andrew Conrad kicked a 55-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Bulls 20–17 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
The Bulls had tied the game with 9:42 to play on a one-yard touchdown run by Jason Collins Jr. D.J. Crowther set up the score with runs of 23 and 25 yards on consecutive plays. Luke Kromenhoek then found tight end Evan Dangler for 27 yards down to the ECU 1. The drive covered 76 yards in four plays.
USF had struck first on Kromenhoek’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Rodgers. The teams went into halftime tied at 10. East Carolina took a 17–10 lead in the third quarter when Emory Williams found Landon Sides for an eight-yard touchdown.
On the final drive, Asani Redwood’s sack pushed the Pirates back to their own 42. With 22 seconds left, Williams found Ashton Gray for 18 yards. A short completion moved the ball to the USF 37, giving Conrad a chance from 55.
Crowther rushed for a team-high 111 yards, and Kromenhoek threw for 179. The Bulls dropped to 6–3 overall and 2–3 in the American Conference. Their three losses have come by a combined 14 points. USF returns to Raymond James Stadium to face Memphis at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12.
Photo from USF Athletics. Sources include the USF Athletics recap and official box score.
