TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 7, 2006) ? Freshman Matt Grothe accounted for four of the Bulls' five total touchdowns to lead the University of South Florida football team (4-2, 1-1 BIG EAST) to a 38-16 victory over the Connecticut Huskies (2-3, 0-1 BIG EAST) on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Raymond James Stadium.
Grothe, who threw for 146 yards on 12-of-15 passing, including one touchdown, also rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns. Tying his season-high in rushing yards, Grothe became the second quarterback in USF history (Marquel Blackwell) to rush for three touchdowns in a single game.
Benjamin Williams ran for a career-best 108 yards on 15 carries, including a touchdown. The 100-yard game was the first of the sophomore's career. S.J. Green led all USF receivers with 72 yards on three catches. Amarri Jackson grabbed three passes for 49 yards and his first-career touchdown reception.
USF started the scoring drive with a 16-yard run by Grothe at the 12:16 mark of the first quarter. The drive, which lasted 0:16 (just one play), was set up by a blocked punt by Jerome Murphy. The punt block was the first of his career for the freshman defensive back and was the second time this season the Bulls had blocked a punt.
Grothe's touchdown marked the second time in school history that USF scored on its first offensive play from scrimmage since the Bulls' 51-0 win over Valparaiso on Sept. 12, 1998 (the final game at Tampa Stadium). Both scores were registered following blocked punts.
The Bulls extended their lead to 14-0 when Benjamin Williams rushed for a 13-yard touchdown with 9:13 left in the first quarter. The touchdown, his second career score, was the sophomore's first-career rushing touchdown. The drive, capped off by the Williams' run, lasted four plays, covering 54 yards in 1:39.
Connecticut cut into USF's lead with a 10-yard touchdown reception by Deon Anderson with 9:39 left in the half. The Huskies drove 75 yards on eight plays to get on the board for the first time in the game. The extra point by Matt Nuzie was missed wide right, making the score 14-6.
USF's lead was cut to six points following a 19-yard field goal by UConn's Graig Vividomino with 0:48 left in the half. The field goal capped off a 10-play, 36-yard drive which lasted 2:27.
The Bulls entered halftime with a 14-9 lead.
USF extended its lead to 21-6 with an eight-yard touchdown run by Grothe. The score (with 12:24 left in the third quarter) was the second of the game for the freshman quarterback, who led the Bulls down the field with a 57-yard, six-play drive that took up 2:36. The drive was highlighted by a 31-yard reception by S.J. Green.
Grothe scored his third rushing touchdown of the game, following a 6-yard run with 5:46 left in the third quarter. USF ate up 4:37 on the clock, while gaining 93 yards on 10 plays, giving the Bulls a 28-9 lead.
Jackson's first-career touchdown reception gave the Bulls a 35-9 lead with 12:29 left in the game. Grothe completed a five-yard pass to Jackson to wrap up a 12-play, 70-yard drive. Mike Benzer's 26-yard field goal with 9:45 left in the game gave USF a 38-9 advantage.
Connecticut scored its second touchdown of the game with 1:14 left in the game. A one-yard touchdown run by Lou Allen made the score 38-16.
The victory was the first conference win of the season for USF, moving the Bulls to 1-1 in BIG EAST play.
USF will next travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, Oct. 14. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU beginning at noon.
