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PHOTO GALLERY
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
CINCINNATI, OCT. 24, 2014 – Andre Davis became USF's all-time receptions leader and Marlon Mack broke the program's freshman single-season rushing record in a 34-17 loss to Cincinnati before a crowd of 30,024 at Paul Brown Stadium on Friday night.
Davis, who owns all 12 USF receiving records, now has 136 career receptions after catching six passes for 77 yards with a 38-yard touchdown grab. Mack gained 54 yards on 12 carries and now has 781 total rushing yards, topping B.J. Daniels' 772 yards in 2009.
USF (3-5, 2-2) exploded for 38 points in the biggest comeback in program history last week at Tulsa but heated up a little too late against Cincinnati (4-3, 2-1). The Bulls turned the ball over four times and fumbled six times in the 12th meeting between the programs.
“You can't turn the ball over against a good team and expect to win,” head coach Willie Taggart said.
Starting quarterback Mike White (Fort Lauderdale) played in only one drive in the second half after going 11-for-19 for 92 yards with two interceptions. Backup Steven Bench (Bainbridge, Ga.) gave the Bulls a spark by throwing a career-high two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and finished 9-for-14 for 147 yards.
Cincinnati grabbed an early 10-0 lead before the USF defense responded on the Bearcats' third drive. Demetrius Hill (Kankakee, Ill.) fell on a fumble at the Bearcats' 40 after a botched snap in the wildcat formation and USF cut the deficit to 10-3 with a 44-yard field goal by Marvin Kloss (Naples, Fla.) with 21 seconds left in the first quarter.
Davis became USF's all-time receptions leader with an 8-yard catch for a first down on the scoring drive. With his second grab of the game, Davis took the top spot in the history books from Hugh Smith, who hauled in 131 passes for the Bulls from 1999-2002.
Kloss, a Groza Award Watch List member, extended his field goal streak to 10 consecutive games with his fourth field goal from at least 40 yards out this season. Kloss' kick wound up being the only points scored in the first half by USF, which headed to the locker room down, 20-3, after turning the ball over three times.
Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel missed the second half with a rib injury and was replaced by senior Munchie Legaux. Kiel completed 13 of 22 passes for 196 yards with a touchdown pass and scoring run.
USF needed a big play to shift the momentum and got it during the first drive of the second half. Sophomore linebacker Nigel Harris (Tampa) stripped the ball away on a carry by Rod Moore to set the USF offense up at the Cincinnati 12. The Bearcats got the ball right back, however, with a fumble recovery by Jeff Luc on the very next play.
The Bulls cut their deficit to 27-10 with 14:02 to play when Bench found sophomore Rodney Adams wide open for a 67-yard connection that was a career high for both players. Adams (St. Petersburg) finished with two catches for 68 yards.
Bench continued to have the hot hand after his scoring pass to Adams when he connected with Davis for a 38-yard TD that cut the deficit to 34-17 with 12:19 remaining. It marked the school-record 15th career touchdown catch for Davis, who has five in just four games this season.
The USF defense finished with three turnovers and was led by Harris, who racked up a game-high 11 tackles with a forced fumble. True freshman Josh Black (Tampa) registered the first sack of his career.
Cincinnati posted 590 yards of total offense and 273 on the ground after Mike Boone rushed for 212 yards on 19 carries. Legaux completed 14 of 15 passes for 121 yards.
“We just have to put it behind us and we have to make some corrections,” Taggart said.
The Bulls are back at Raymond James Stadium to host Houston on Saturday, Nov. 1. Kickoff for the Military and Veterans Appreciation Game is set for 4 p.m. and fans can purchase tickets HERE. Fans out of town can catch the game on ESPNews.
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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