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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - Freshman Hassan Childs' two interceptions highlighted a solid defensive effort by the Bulls, but points were hard to come by in a 16-6 loss to SMU on Saturday before a Senior Night crowd of 28,397 at Raymond James Stadium.
Chris Dunkley's 50-yard punt return for a touchdown got the Bulls on the scoreboard with 2:24 remaining in the game, but USF couldn't overcome 13 penalties for 107 yards in the first meeting between the programs.
“We can't keep beating ourselves and we've been doing that these last few weeks with a lot of penalties,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “… It's a matter of our guys calming down, playing with confidence and not pressing.”
SMU (5-5, 4-2) headed into the game ranked 20th nationally in total offense (481 ypg) but only outgained USF, 280-259, after starting quarterback Garrett Gilbert left with an injury in the second quarter. Defensive end Aaron Lynch posted two sacks and four tackles for loss, while senior Luke Sager added a sack and linebacker DeDe Lattimore finished with a team-high seven tackles in his final home game as a Bull.
“Our defensive played great to hold that team to 16 points and 280 yards. We just didn't make the plays offensively to help them,” Taggart said.
The Bulls' biggest bright spot on offense was junior Andre Davis (Tampa) who set a new USF record with three straight 100-yard receiving games after hauling in five passes for 113 yards, including a career-long 73-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Davis extended his USF record catch streak to 28 games and his performance Saturday moved him into fourth place in school history in career catches (109) and fifth in receiving yards (1,441).
Chase Hover's 25-yard field goal nearly five minutes in marked the only points of a first half that was ruled by the defenses. The teams combined for six punts and Childs (Kissimmee, Fla.) came up with his second interception of the season in the second quarter.
Childs' pick set USF up at the SMU 36, but the Bulls failed to cash in on prime field position when Marvin Kloss (Naples, Fla.) slipped and missed a 51-yard field goal attempt with 10:14 to go before halftime.
Gilbert completed 19 of 23 passes for 138 yards before missing the entire second half with a leg injury. Gilbert came into the contest leading the nation in total offense with 405.7 yards per game.
Gilbert's absence didn't stop the Mustangs from extending their lead on the first drive of the second half. Backup Neal Burcham went 4-for-8 for 37 yards on his opening drive and Prescott Line capped off the 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run that put the Mustangs ahead, 9-0, with 10:48 to play in the third quarter. Hover missed the extra point attempt.
The Mustangs threated again on their second drive of the half before Childs came up with his second interception in the end zone. The other Bull to intercept two passes in a game this season was senior safety Mark Joyce in a 26-20 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 5.
USF now has nine interceptions on the season after ranking last in the FBS with two in 2012.
“They did a better job with zone coverage and keeping things in front,” Taggart said. “Something coach (Chuck) Bresnahan has been doing in the past two weeks is playing a lot more zone and that's helped our guys tremendously, especially in the passing game.”
USF was forced to punt for the sixth time after Childs' second pick and SMU, which started on the Bulls' 46, extended the lead to 16-0 with a gutsy play. The Mustangs faced a fourth-and-1 when Burchman threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Der'rikk Thompson as time expired in the third quarter.
USF starting quarterback Mike White shook off interceptions on consecutive drives to give the Bulls their best field position of the game when he found Davis for a 73-yard reception that set USF up at the SMU 17 with less than 8 minutes remaining. USF had a first-and-goal at the 2, but three penalties and three incomplete passes stalled the drive. White completed 19 of 34 passes for 217 yards in the third start of his career.
“If we can get out of our own way, I think our offense will be a lot better than what it is,” Taggart said.
Dunkley's big play on special teams marked USF's first punt return for a score since Aug. 30, 2008, when Theo Wilson registered a 68-yard return against Tennessee-Martin.
USF (2-8, 2-4) looks to bounce back 8 p.m. Friday, when it faces No. 17 UCF in Orlando. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
“We have another opportunity under the spotlight to show up and show out. That's what everyone is looking for is a complete game,” Taggart said.
17 Seniors Honored
USF recognized 17 seniors and their families prior to kickoff and the list of honorees included: linebacker DeDe Lattimore, defensive end Ryne Giddins, safety Mark Joyce, running back Marcus Shaw, quarterback Bobby Eveld, safety JaQuez Jenkins, defensive end Julius Forte, wide receiver Derrick Hopkins, defensive tackle Luke Sager, defensive end Tevin Mims, offensive guard Steven Jacques, defensive lineman Anthony Hill, fullback Ryan Eppes, defensive tackle Demi Thompson, cornerback Brandon Salinas, cornerback Fidel Montgomery, and tight end Lawrence Martin.
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