By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Bulls were just a kick away from changing their fortunes in the Big East.
USF's Maikon Bonani missed a game-winning field goal in regulation and Rutgers' San San Te made good on his in overtime to give the Scarlet Knights a 20-17 victory over the Bulls.
But, the Bulls may be closer than ever to overcoming adversity after Saturday night.
"I'm so proud of this team. the heart energy and the passion that they are playing the game with," head coach Skip Holtz said.
USF had the ball first in overtime, but B.J. Daniels was intercepted that set up Rutgers (6-3, 3-2) for the winning drive. Daniels' pass was tipped off the hands of tight end Evan Landi, which proved to be more bad luck for a 4-4 Bulls team that has dropped four consecutive games in Big East play.
Before the offenses heated up late, points were hard to come by early on a brisk night at High Point Solutions Stadium.
Eight combined punts and only eight first downs were earned before the Bulls put together the first great drive of the game midway through the second quarter.
Set up at USF 42, Daniels started a drive that started with 10:20 to go before the half with a 21-yard scramble into Rutgers territory. Daniels did significant damage with his arm eight plays later when he threw a screen pass to Marc, who turned it into a 23-yard touchdown with 6:11 remaining before the break.
The Bulls have scored first in every one of their eight games this season.
USF's defense got the assist on the Bulls' next score.
A play after combining on a sack with DeDe Lattimore, Ryne Giddins sacked, stripped Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova and recovered the fumble on his own at the USF 49. The Bulls had a 10-0 lead 10 plays later on a 43-yard field goal by Bonani with 36 seconds to go before the half.
Giddins' huge play proved to be the exclamation mark on the USF defense's big statement in the first half.
The Bulls held the Scarlet Knights to negative 4 rushing yards and 87 total yards in the first two quarters. Receiver Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers' most dangerous player, was limited to two catches for 18 yards, while the Scarlet Knights crossed the 50-yard line only two times out of their six legitimate drives in the half.
It marked the third time this season that USF has held an opponent scoreless in the first half.
USF was on its way to keeping the shutout going until Marc suffered a critical error on special teams in the third quarter. The inexperienced punt returner fumbled and lost a rolling punt at USF's own 12 that gave Rutgers a close chance to cut into its deficit.
San San Te got the Scarlet Knights on the scoreboard four plays later with a 33-yard field goal almost eight minutes into the quarter. Still, USF's defense proved to be well up to the challenge on the drive by holding Rutgers to negative 4 yards, thanks in large part to sack by Sam Barrington that resulted in a 12-yard loss on third down.
Bonani had a chance to extend USF's lead on its next drive, but missed wide left from 47 yards out with 3:10 to play in the third quarter.
More great defense followed for the Bulls, and their offense put together a fourth-quarter drive that proved to be very valuable.
USF ate five minutes off the clock with a slow burning 13-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that was highlighted by its ground game.
Darrell Scott inched closer to the 100-yard mark with three carries for 11 yards, while Murray got in the act with four carries for 19 yards, including a 3-yard scoring run with 7:38 to play. Receiver Lindsey Lamar also rushed twice for 28 yards and had his 23-yard sprint got USF all the way to the Rutgers 30 on the drive.
Rutgers struck back with a quick strike that kept the game close.
Jeremy Deering returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown that marked the third-longest return in Scarlet Knights history.
The Scarlet Knights got their final shot to score on a drive that started with 3:23 remaining and their best player finally stepped up.
Sanu posted seven catches for 60 yards, including one on fourth-and-9 to get Rutgers into USF territory. Rutgers capped off the drive with 34-yard touchdown pass from Chas Dodd to Brandon Coleman that tied the game up with 1 minute, 8 seconds remaining.
USF went three-and-out and Justin Brockhaus-Kann's 26-yard punt set Rutgers up at its own 49 with 41 seconds to go. Cornerback Kayvon Webster proved to be the Bulls saving grace when he intercepted a Dodd pass two plays later.
With new life, Daniels hit Murray for a 34-yard connection and suddenly the Bulls were at the Rutgers 40 with 22 seconds to play. Daniels followed with a 30-yard run that got Bonani well within his range.
What looked very good turned out to be very bad for the Bulls, however. Bonani's 27-yard field goal attempt in the last seconds of regulation went wide left and sent the game into overtime.
"We wouldn't trade him for any kicker in the world," linebacker Sam Barrington said.
USF got the ball first and failed on its try when Landi's tipped reception try was intercepted by Rutgers' Duron Harmon.
San Te hit from 37 yards out to lock up a memorable comeback win for Rutgers.
