TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 4, 2006) ? Holding the nation's 29th-ranked offense to 214 yards, the University of South Florida football team (6-3, 2-2 BIG EAST) downed the Pittsburgh Panthers (6-3, 2-2 BIG EAST), 22-12, on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Raymond James Stadium.
Gaining 377 yards of offense, USF improved the team's record against Pittsburgh to 2-2, snapping a two-game skid to the BIG EAST foe. With the win, USF won its seventh homecoming game in the program's 10-year history.
Matt Grothe completed 19-of-25 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown versus the Panthers. The Lakeland, Fla., native connected with eight different receivers, including Amarri Jackson for 46 yards (the second-longest touchdown pass of his career). Grothe also ran for 59 yards on 12 carriers, including one rushing touchdown. Pat Julmiste replaced Grothe in the fourth quarter (injury) and tallied 49 yards on the ground, while completing his only pass attempt of the afternoon.
Ean Randolph led all USF receivers with six catches for 46 yards. Jackson grabbed three catches, gaining a team-high 47 yards.
The Bulls totaled 210 yards rushing during the game, while logging 10 more minutes of possession than the Panthers. Grothe and Julmiste combined for 108 yards on the ground on 22 carries. Ricky Ponton gained 44 yards on the ground on 15 carries. Two key rushes were registered by punter Justin Teachey, who rattled off 25 yards on two fake punts.
USF's defense held one of the nation's top quarterbacks (Tyler Palko) to 11-of-23 passing for 159 yards. The Bulls forced Palko to throw a season-high three interceptions on the day. Entering the contest, the conference's leader in pass efficiency had only thrown three picks on the year.
A 22-yard reverse by Taurus Johnson with 10:12 left in the first quarter gave USF a 7-0 lead. The trick play capped an 11-play, 64-yard opening drive which chewed up 4:48 on the clock.
On their second drive of the game, Pittsburgh's Conor Lee kicked a 41-yard field goal to cut USF's lead to 7-3 with 1:22 left in the first. The kick caromed off the right post, giving Pitt its first points of the game. The Panther drive went 28 yards on six plays lasting 2:57.
Grothe scored his eighth rushing touchdown of the season with a one-yard scramble with 8:37 left in the half. In a goal-line set, Grothe ran a bootleg to the right, finding the end zone to give USF a 14-3 lead. The Bulls drove 50 yards on six plays in 2:38.
The rushing touchdown moved Grothe just one score shy of tying the school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season (9 ? Pat Julmiste, 2004; Marquel Blackwell, 2001).
USF entered halftime with a 14-3 lead and a 213-50 edge in total offense.
The Bulls attempted to extend their lead with a 47-yard field goal however, the attempt was blocked by H.B. Blades keeping the USF lead at 11 points. The field goal attempt was the result of an interception of a Tyler Palko pass by Jeremy Burnett. The pick was Burnett's first of his USF career.
Pitt added three points with a 34-yard field goal by Lee with 6:35 left in the third quarter. The field goal was the result of a seven-play, 23-yard drive which started on the USF 40-yard line following a Bulls' turnover.
Grothe completed his 10th touchdown pass of the season with a 46-yard completion to Amarri Jackson with 3:58 left in the third quarter. The touchdown reception was the second of the season for Jackson and marked the fourth time this season Grothe had thrown for and ran for a touchdown in the same game. Following the missed extra point, USF's lead became 20-6.
The Bulls added two more points with a safety in the fourth quarter. From his own end zone, Palko was called for intentional grounding as Robert Clebert applied pressure with 10:55 left in the game. The safety was the first of the season and marked the first safety recorded by USF since Nov. 16, 2002 (vs. Bowling Green).
A 19-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Strong from Palko with 6:22 left in the game gave Pittsburgh their first and only touchdown of the contest. Starting from their own 20-yard line, Pitt drove 80 yards in four plays in 1:16. The drive was highlighted by a 42-yard completion to Marcel Pestano. Falling to score the two-point conversion, the Panthers trailed USF, 22-12.
Trae Williams recorded USF's third interception of the game, picking off Palko in the final seconds to seal the victory for the Bulls. It was Williams' sixth interception of the season, tying him with J.R. Reed (2002) for second-most by a USF player in a single season.
USF will host the Syracuse Orange on Saturday, Nov. 11 at noon. The game will be broadcast on ABC-28 (WFTS).
