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TAMPA, NOV. 16, 2013 – Coming off a 16-day break and its third bye week of the season, USF entered Saturday night's clash with Memphis with high expectations, but crucial turnovers, missed opportunities and a slow start offensively conspired to send the Bulls to a 23-10 loss to the Tigers before 30,831 fans at Raymond James Stadium.

The Bulls fell to 2-7 on the year (2-3 in the AAC) and Memphis improved to 3-6 and gained its first AAC win of the season to improve to 1-4 in conference action despite USF outgaining the Tigers 325 to 242 yards on the night. The Bulls turned the ball over a season-high five times, including four interceptions of freshman quarterback Mike White who went 18-of-33 for 198 yards and a touchdown in his second start. Bulls wide receiver Andre Davis posted his second-straight 100-yard game posting seven catches for 110 yards and a late touchdown. It marked his third career 100-yard game, which is tied for the third most in program history.  Marcus Shaw led the Bulls with 57 yards rushing on 11 carries.

“I told Mike there isn't a quarterback out there that isn't going to have a bad game,” USF coach Willie Taggart said. “He tried to do a little bit more than what he did before. He's going to be a really good quarterback. The kid can get it done.”

Memphis tallied 183 yards rushing led by 78 yards on 20 carries from Brandon Hayes. Tiger quarterback Paxton Lynch was just 6-of-13 for 59 yards and an interception. Bulls' cornerback Kenneth Durden grabbed that interception on the Tigers' first possession of the game, marking the first of his career, but USF failed to capitalize after taking over on the Memphis 43. The Bulls moved the ball 14 yards before sending Marvin Kloss out to attempt a 49-yard field goal. He missed, ending a USF record string of 13-straight makes.

In a game that saw each team commit nine penalties and neither offense produce much through three quarters, the Bulls entered the fourth quarter trailing 6-3 and in position to pull out a win despite early miscues. Kloss, a Groza Award semifinalist, missed on attempts from 49 and 55 yards in the first half and the Bulls had another first half scoring threat end on the Memphis goal line when fullback Lawrence Martin fumbled a handoff into the endzone for a touchback.

“We didn't start fast,” Taggart said. “We are a team that needs to start fast. We are not mentally strong enough yet. We don't deal with adversity. If we can get mentally tough enough, we will have a good football team.”

Memphis got on the board first with a pair of first half field goals from Jake Elliot, the Tigers' own Groza Award semifinalist, as he hit from 19 yards in the first quarter and a school-record 56-yarder that bounced over the cross bar with 1:38 left in the half for a 6-0 Tiger lead at halftime.

The Bulls opened the second half with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that stalled at the Memphis 10-yard line. Kloss connected on a 28-yard field goal to cut the Memphis lead to 6-3. The game remained tight until Memphis drove 59 yards in eight plays to take a 13-3 lead on a five-yard touchdown run by Hayes with 4:09 to play.

Three of White's interceptions came in the Bulls final four possessions with under four minutes to play as the Bulls tried to come back from that deficit. The first of those was grabbed by the Tiger's Dion Witty who returned it 22 yards to the USF 16. The Bulls defense, which held Memphis to just 59 yards passing and 2-of-10 on third down on the night, stiffened and held the Tigers to a 34-yard field goal and a 16-3 lead.

On the Bulls next possession White was picked off by Memphis' Bobby McCain who returned it 36 yards for a touchdown with 1:35 left in the game to give the Tigers a 23-3 lead.

White came back on the field and led the Bulls on a 73 yard scoring drive in 47 seconds as he connected with Andre Davis for a 31-yard touchdown strike with 46 seconds to play. The touchdown catch marked the first for Davis on the season and the 10th of his career moving him into a tie for fourth all-time on the USF career charts.

The Bulls recovered an onside kick with 47 seconds to play, but were unable to threaten further and the game ended on Whites fourth interception of the day on a desperation heave into the endzone.

Linebacker Reshard Cliett led USF with six tackles and two tackles for loss while defensive tackle Elkino Watson posted five tackles and a career-high three tackles for loss including one sack.

“I still think we have a lot to play for,” Taggart said. “We are trying to build this program and set a foundation.”


Up Next

• USF will return to Raymond James stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23 to take on SMU in the Bulls final home game of the season. It will be Senior Night with 18 USF players and their families honored before kickoff. The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff and will be broadcast on ESPN3.