USF Game Notes
Brut Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium
El Paso, Texas
Dec. 31, 2007
Head Coach Jim Leavitt owns a 79-47 record in 11 seasons since starting the football program at USF. He leads all BIG EAST coaches in wins at their current school.
In its 11th season of football, the University of South Florida drops to 1-2 in bowl games. USF beat East Carolina in the 2006 Papajohns.com Bowl and lost to N.C. State in the 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Season Record Notes
In the third quarter against Oregon, junior LB Tyrone McKenzie broke the USF record for tackles in a single season, making 10 stops in the game against Oregon for a total of 121 this year. McKenzie started the game seven shy of Kawika Mitchell's record of 117 from the 2002 season.
Tackles in a Season
1. Tyrone McKenzie (2007) ? 121
2. Kawika Mitchell (2002) - 117
3. Maurice Jones (2003) - 116
4. Ben Moffitt (2005) - 112
QB Matt Grothe's 2,670 passing yards is the second best season total in USF history. Marquel Blackwell owns the record with 2,882 yards in 2001. Grothe also holds the fourth spot, with his 2,576 yards in 2006.
Passing Yards in a Season
1. 2,882 Marquel Blackwell ? 2001
2. 2,670 Grothe - 2007
3. 2,590 Marquel Blackwell
4. 2,576 - Grothe ? 2006
Individual Game Notes
The captains, which Coach Leavitt picks on a game-by-game basis, were Ben Moffitt, Marc Dile, Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams. Moffitt has been a captain 10 times this season, including a streak of nine consecutive from the start of the season through the Cincinnati contest. Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams have each been captains three times this season and today was Marc Dile's first appearance at the coin flip.
USF opened in its standard defensive alignment with no surprises among the starters.
On offense USF opened in a two tight end and two running back set. Ben Busbee and Cedric Hill were at tight end, Ben Williams and Mike Ford were at running back and Carlton Mitchell was the lone wide receiver. Senior Jared Carnes replaced the injured Walt Walker at right tackle.
Offensive linemen Marc Dile (15 straight), Ryan Schmidt (20), Jake Griffin (13) and Zach Hermann (13) have started every game this season. QB Matt Grothe (25) has the longest starting streak on the offensive side of the ball. USF's secondary of CB Trae Williams (27 straight), SS Carlton Williams (14), FS Nate Allen (13) and CB Mike Jenkins (13) have started every game this season. Ben Moffitt has the longest starting streak on the team at 43 games. DE George Selvie has started every game of his career - 26 total.
USF linebacker Brouce Mompremier forced a fumble, then strong safety Carlton Williams recovered the fumble on Oregon's first possession of the game. The play increased the Bulls' NCAA-leading season total to 19 fumbles gained.
Freshman tight end Quincy Okolie's first career catch was a 19-yard reception in the first quarter.
PK Delbert Alvarado made 10 of his last 11 field goals, and four straight, after his 29-yard connection in the second quarter and 35-yard kick right before the half.
In the second quarter, QB Matt Grothe completed a 21-yard pass to junior wide receiver Taurus Johnson for the Bulls' first TD of the game. The reception was Johnson's fourth of the season, and tied him with WRs Carlton Mitchell and Jessie Hester for the team lead.
USF completed their first two-point conversion of the season, a pass from Grothe to junior tight end Cedric Hill in the second quarter, to tie the game at 11 apiece. USF's only other two-point conversion attempt in 2007 was in the fourth quarter of the Cincinnati game (Nov. 3).
In the fourth quarter, freshman WR A.J. Love recorded his first-career touchdown, an 11-yard pass from junior QB Grant Gregory. The TD was Gregory's fourth of the season.
Eleven USF receivers caught a pass against Oregon, totaling 234 yards from 24 catches. The previous high this season was 10, which occurred in both the UCF and UNC game.
