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PHOTO GALLERY
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TULSA, OKLA., OCT. 18, 2014 – Sophomore quarterback Mike White teamed with senior wide receiver Andre Davis for three scoring strikes in the second half that led USF to the largest comeback in program history in a 38-30 victory at Tulsa.
The Bulls roared back from a 27-7 halftime deficit with Davis scoring on an 85-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass from White in the fourth quarter at Chapman Stadium. It marked Davis's third touchdown catch of the game, which tied a school record, and moved the Tampa native into a tie for the career record with 14.
Freshman Marlon Mack posted the third 100-rushing game of his career with 130 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, while White threw for 272 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 17-of-26 passing as the Bulls tallied 316 of their 412 yards in the second half.
The 20-point turnaround topped USF's 17-point comeback win over No. 13/11 Kansas on Nov. 12, 2008. The Bulls improved to 2-1 in American Athletic Conference play, 3-4 overall.
Head coach Willie Taggart was impressed with his team's mental toughness in the first-ever USF-Tulsa meeting.
"Anyone could have quit, and any team that hasn't won in a while could have quit, but these guys have been fighting," Taggart said. "They've been working hard and things weren't going the way we wanted early in the season but it's a new season. Like we said, we're trying to make it a new season with our mentality, our effort and the way we play on the football field. Our guys did that today, the players and the coaches."
Davis' 154 receiving yards on six catches were the second-most in school history behind his 191-yard effort at Nevada on Sept. 8, 2012. Davis' three TD grabs helped the former Tampa Jefferson High School standout tie the career record of 14 set by DeAndrew Rubin (1999-2002). Davis set a new USF career receiving yards record last week against East Carolina and logged his sixth 100-yard receiving game Saturday to become USF's all-time leader.
"Whatever I have to do for my team to make a play, that's what I'm going to do. If I'm out there and I have to make a block, I'm going to make the block," Davis said. "I know eventually the ball is going to fall in my hands. We have great coaches and they do whatever it takes to get the ball in my hands. I appreciate them for that."
White paved the way for Davis' clutch performance by putting together the best performance of his career. The Fort Lauderdale native has thrown for at least 250 yards in consecutive games after completing 17 of 26 passes for 272 yards (211 in second half). White became the first quarterback to throw three touchdown passes in a game since B.J. Daniels accomplished the feat on Oct. 20, 2012 against Louisville.
Mack jumped into USF's top 10 in season rushing yards (727 yards, 10th place) and generated 85 of his 130 yards in the second half after producing USF's lone score of the first half.
Tulsa took an early 7-0 lead with a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown by Austin McDaniel before the USF defense got back into turnover mode to set up the Bulls' first score.
Junior linebacker Tashon Whitehurst (Gainesville) scooped up a fumble at the Tulsa 28 on the Golden Hurricane's second drive of the game and the Mack Attack took care of the rest. Following a penalty, Mack found room on the left edge and sprinted 34 yards to the end zone to tie things up with 10:37 remaining in the first quarter.
Tulsa made its way to the USF red zone on the ensuing drive but a sack by senior Elkino Watson on third down at the Bulls' 9 forced the Golden Hurricane to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Carl Salazar with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter. Watson, who finished with seven tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, has registered a sack in consecutive games after getting to East Carolina's Shane Carden last Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.
Tulsa extended its lead to 24-7 with an 18-yard reverse run by Bishop Louie with 2:17 left in the first quarter and an 8-yard touchdown catch by Keevan Lucas with 10:31 to go before halftime. Salazer's 19-yard field goal gave Tulsa a 27-7 lead as time expired in the first half.
"We just said, 'We've been here before,' and we talked to these guys about adversity and not quitting," Taggart said. "Rather than when things get tough, asking, 'Why me? Ask the question, 'Why not me?' We talked about that at the half and we brought it up earlier in the week."
Despite the slow start, USF exploded out of the gates during the first drive of the second half that resulted in a 54-yard touchdown run by Mack. The Sarasota native started things off with a 6-yard run and White directed the Bulls near midfield with an 18-yard pass to senior tight end Sean Price (Citra, Fla.).
That set the table for Mack, who followed a pulverizing block by fullback Kennard Swanson (Lakeland) and sprinted to the end zone for his eighth touchdown of the season, which is double the amount USF totaled on the ground in 2013. The dazzling play helped ensure Mack of his third 100-plus yard rushing game after he tied the school record with 275 yards against Western Carolina and posted 103 yards against UConn.
Tulsa grabbed a 30-14 lead on its first drive of the second half with a 32-yard field goal by Salazar but the Bulls continued to inch closer with another impressive scoring drive. White got the Bulls near the red zone with a 26-yard strike to Davis on a third-and-10 at the USF 48-yard line. Davis then capped off a seven-play, 52-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown catch that cut the deficit to 30-21 with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter.
The USF defense continued to respond as well, limiting Tulsa to three points in the second half, and the Bulls' special teams stepped up with a big play to keep the momentum. Senior tight end Mike McFarland (Tampa) used his 6-foot-6 frame to block a 47-yard field goal attempt by Salazar with 2:16 to play in the third quarter.
USF cashed in on McFarland's fourth-career field goal block with a 10-play, 66-yard drive that was capped off by another 15-yard touchdown catch by Davis, which cut the deficit to 30-28. White went 6-for-7 on the drive and converted twice on third down before finding Davis for a score with 9:23 remaining.
Davis gave the Bulls the lead with his final catch, an 85-yarder on a bubble-and-go route. USF started the drive at its own 15 and White immediately threw a strike to Davis, who completed the longest play from scrimmage for the Bulls this season. It also marked the second-longest pass play ever in school history, tying Carlton Mitchell's reception from Daniels at Syracuse on Oct. 3, 2009.
Groza Award Watch List member Marvin Kloss (Naples, Fla.) capped off the scoring with a 28-yard field goal with 2:33 to play.
USF was able to finish off the stunning turnaround with the strong defensive effort in the second half. The Bulls limited Tulsa to 174 yards after the break while the Golden Hurricane went 1-for-5 on third down after starting 5-for-9.
Redshirt freshman Auggie Sanchez (St. Petersburg) led the way with a career-high 11 tackles. Sophomore linebacker Nigel Harris (Tampa) made eight tackles after missing last game with an ankle injury and Whitehurst joined Watson with seven stops.
"The entire Bulls Nation, just believe in this football team," Taggart said. "We're going to get it right, we're all going to be happy and we're all going to make it the way it's supposed to be."
USF looks to keep a good thing going on Friday, Oct. 24 at Cincinnati in the program's seventh nationally televised game this season. Start time for the ESPN2 broadcast is set for 8 p.m. The Bulls return to Raymond James Stadium to host Houston on Saturday, Nov. 1. Purchase tickets for USF-Houston HERE.
USF football single game tickets, mini-plans and season tickets are available on-line at GoUSFBulls.com, by calling 1-800-GoBulls, or in person at the Sun Dome Gate A Ticket Office. Season Ticket Members may renew their tickets on-line today.
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