Box Score
 |
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final |
| USF |
0 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
28 |
| UConn |
0 |
3 |
10 |
7 |
20 |
|
| |
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
EAST HARTFORD, CONN., OCT. 17, 2015 – Rodney Adams tied a program record with three touchdown catches and a second-half formation change helped the Bulls rush for 275 yards in a 28-20 win at UConn on Saturday afternoon.
USF (3-3, 1-1) posted its first-ever American East Division victory and scored 21 points in the second half to secure the Bulls' 100th win as an FBS program.
“We told our guys earlier in the week that it was going to be a tough ballgame,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “It was going to take our best effort in order to win. Whenever we play UConn, it's always a tough ballgame.”
Adams caught five passes for a career-high 118 yards, including 29-yard TD reception on a halfback option pass from tailback D'Ernest Johnson in the third quarter after UConn took its only lead.
“When adversity hit, we just looked it in the face and said, 'Bring it on,'” Taggart said. “We kept playing and I'm really proud of our guys.”
With tight end Sean Price blocking in a four-Bull backfield, USF gained 312 of its 461 yards in the second half. The Bulls rushed for more than 200 yards for the fourth time this season with the Mack Attack leading the way.
The sophomore Mack posted his eighth-career 100-yard rushing game with 113 yards on 13 carries and quarterback Quinton Flowers added 98 more yards on the ground and a touchdown on 15 attempts. Mack became the first Bull to post three-straight 100-yard games since Andre Hall in 2005. He now has four on the season.
Taggart credited the two running back set with Price in the backfield for helping the Bulls bust loose in their fourth-straight win over UConn and second straight on the season.
“That was one of those formations we said we were going to save until the second half and it helped us big-time,” Taggart said. “I give credit to our coaching staff for making those adjustments at halftime and our players coming out and executing.”
Tom Allen's “Bulls Sharks” defense applied the pressure with 9.0 tackles for loss and a season-high 5.0 sacks. USF stopped UConn on fourth down twice and didn't allow a third-down conversion in the fourth quarter.
“Our guys kept fighting and kept them out of the end zone,” Taggart said.
Senior Jamie Byrd (Dade City) registered a career-high 2.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss to go with 12 tackles, two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up. Redshirt sophomore Auggie Sanchez recorded his third double-digit tackle outing of the season with 10 stops.
Adams' 44-yard touchdown reception helped USF take a 7-3 lead into the break, but the big story of the first half was the USF defense.
Deadrin Senat (Immokalee) stuffed UConn QB Bryant Shirreffs on fourth-and-1 at the USF 8 on the first drive of the game. Devin Abraham's first-career sack stalled UConn's second drive after the Huskies reached the Bulls' 36-yard line.
The “Bull Sharks” forced another punt on their third series and Flowers' legs jump started the USF offense late in the first quarter. Facing a third-and-5 at the USF 22, Flowers read blitz, checked the play and then took off up the middle for a career-high 33-yard gain.
USF's offense failed to score after Flowers' big run, but the “Bull Sharks” provided another big boost with the game's first takeaway. Deatrick Nichols (Miami) batted a pass near the line of scrimmage that was intercepted by freshman tackle Kevin Bronson (Delray Beach) at the USF 42.
The Bulls converted the turnover into points when Flowers found Rodney Adams on a 44-yard touchdown connection with 11:08 remaining in the half.
Following Adams' touchdown, UConn drove all the way to the USF 2, but the Huskies couldn't find the end zone. Bronson stepped up again with a tackle on third-and-goal and Bobby Puyol's 19-yard field goal got UConn on the scoreboard with 7:50 left in the half.
USF headed into the game ranking 10th nationally with 8.2 tackles for loss per game and the Bulls racked up 6.0 by halftime. Byrd's first-career sack stalled another UConn drive late in the second quarter and Shawn Hill's sack helped keep the Huskies out of the end zone during the final drive of the half.
After leading for most of the first half, USF found itself in comeback mode following Flowers' second interception of the day. The Huskies took a 10-7 lead on a 36-yard touchdown run from Shirreffs with 9:17 remaining in the third quarter.
The Bulls bounced back in a big way with their second successful trick play in as many weeks.
Flowers completed a 30-yard pass to Marlon Pope before the Bulls faked out UConn with a halfback option pass. Instead of tucking and running, Johnson wound up and threw a 29-yard touchdown strike to Adams to put the Bulls back ahead with 7:59 left in the third quarter.
USF's surprise play resulted in its 11th touchdown pass of the season, which matched the Bulls' total in all of 2014.
“I call (D'Ernest) the Junkyard Dog. He just does it all for us and he loves doing it,” Taggart said.
UConn cut its deficit to 14-13 with Puyol's 27-yard field goal before USF started to distance itself with an explosive ground attack.
Mack started a three-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 59-yard run down the sideline. Flowers capped things off with a 15-yard touchdown run that helped spot the Bulls a 21-13 lead with 37 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Bulls held off an opponent for the second straight week by getting big plays on both sides of the ball.
Nigel Harris sacked Sherriffs with the Huskies facing a fourth-and-2 at the USF 36 with 5:24 remaining. Instead of trying to take time off the clock, USF caught UConn by surprise once again with Flowers' second 44-yard touchdown pass to Adams with 4:23 remaining.
Adams third TD catch of the day proved to be very valuable for the Bulls. Shirreffs' 27-yard touchdown pass to Tyraiq Beals helped cut UConn's deficit to 28-20 with 2:12 remaining.
The Huskies tried an on-side kick that was secured by Abraham and the Bulls ran out the clock in their first road win of the season.
The Bulls look to gain more momentum in league play Saturday, Oct. 24 against SMU at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and fans can reserve their seats at USFBullsTix.com.
The USF Football program is in its 19th season overall and 16th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 25 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.
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