By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – B.J. Daniels helped the Bulls break out of a Big East funk in a big way Friday night.

Daniels racked up 366 combined yards to help USF beat Syracuse, 37-17, and snap a four-game losing streak in conference play before a crowd of 41,582 at the Carrier Dome.

Daniels shined on the nationally televised stage by racking up 117 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and 254 passing yards. It marked the redshirt junior quarterback's second 100-plus rushing, 250-plus passing yard game of his college career.

Running back Demetris Murray added two touchdown runs in the fourth quarter that made sure the Bulls got back over .500 at 5-4 this season.
But before USF's offense started roaring, the Bulls' defense helped get it warmed up at the start of a game that was broadcast on ESPN2.

USF forced a three-and-out on Syracuse's game opening drive and got great field position after Jonathan Fisher's punt only traveled 11 yards to the Orange 40-yard line. Maikon Bonani gave the Bulls a 3-0 lead seven plays later. USF has scored first in all nine of its games this season.

The Bulls offense got back to work after Syracuse punted for the third straight time.

USF marched 56 yards to the Syracuse 5, where it faced a decision of whether or not to go for it on a fourth-and-2. USF rolled the dice and succeeded with its offense staying on the field when Murray gained 2 yards. Marcus Shaw got his second rushing touchdown of the season one play later from 3 yards out, and the Bulls had a 10-0 lead with 10:51 to play in the half.

Syracuse got going on its fifth drive of the game and got within three thanks to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Nassib to Alec Lemon with 3:52 remaining in the second quarter.

The Orange's three-point deficit was short lived, however, with the USF offense getting more and more aggressive with time winding down. Set up at the Syracuse 45, Daniels connected with Andre Davis for 43 yards and used a quarterback keeper to score on the next play to cap off a drive that took only 25 seconds.

Daniels proved to be efficient in the first half, going 11-for-16 through the air for 125 yards.

Davis, a true freshman, somehow found a way to make the diving catch while being heavily covered and ended the half by tying a career high with three receptions for 62 yards.

Syracuse also showed it can move the ball downfield quickly and added a 28-yard field goal by Ross Krautman with 1:21 left in the second quarter.

USF ended up scoring for the fourth time in its first six drives and wrapped up the first half with a 46-yard field goal by Bonani that gave the Bulls a 20-10 advantage as time expired.

A short break didn't cool down the Bulls' offense, which continued adding points to the scoreboard on the first drive of the second half. USF used up nearly six minutes and Bonani tacked on his third field goal of the game from 35 yards out to pump the Bulls' advantage up to 23-10.

Daniels continued to hurt Syracuse with his feet on the drive, ripping off a 23-yarder, and was up to 69 rushing yards by the time Bonani's kick sailed through the uprights. Daniels rushed for 74 yards before his first negative yardage play of the night and wound up leading USF on the ground for the fourth game this season.

USF nearly scored on its second drive of the third quarter, but a bit of bad luck saved Syracuse from an even bigger hole. Daniels connected with Victor Marc on a 33-yard pass, but Marc fumbled near the goal line and the ball went out of the end zone for a touchback.

Syracuse (5-5, 1-4) threatened to pull closer at the start of the fourth quarter, but USF played heads up defense of its own near the same goal line where Marc fumbled. The Orange started the period with a first-and-goal at the Bulls' 7 but failed to make it in the end zone on four tries.

The Orange gambled on another fourth down and also failed following a USF punt. Syracuse got as close at the USF 12 until a penalty and two incomplete passes, including one in the end zone, turned the ball over to the Bulls at their own 17 with 9:49 left in the game.

With a chance to put the game away, USF relied on Daniels' legs to carry it to a near victory and the quarterback succeeded.

Daniels' 30-yard run that started at midfield got the Bulls near the red zone and Murray capped off 4 minute, 30 second drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Daniels rushed for 46 yards on the nine-play drive that helped USF ensure that its four-game losing streak would be snapped.

Murray's touchdown proved to be valuable.

Nassib reconnected with Lemon on a 58-yard scoring pass that cut USF's lead to 30-17 with 3:41 remaining. Syracuse's on-side kick attempt failed when it was recovered by Evan Landi.

Murray put USF's victory on ice by adding his second rushing touchdown of the quarter from 8 yards out with 1:01 remaining.

USF gets to play at home for the first time since Oct. 22 when it hosts Miami on Saturday, Nov. 19. Purchase tickets online at GoUSFBulls.com