USF (1-7; 0-4 American) at Temple (2-6; 0-4 American)
Saturday, Nov. 5 • 2:00 P.M. • Lincoln Financial Field (67,594) • Philadelphia, Pa.
SURFACE: Bermuda Grass
TV: ESPN+: Richard Cross (PXP), Taylor McHargue (Analyst)
RADIO: 102.5 FM/102.5 HD 2
AUDIO STREAM: TuneIn - Bulls Unlimited 1
SERIES: Temple Leads, 5-3; STREAK: USF 1
IN TAMPA: USF leads, 3-1
IN PHILLY: UT leads, 4-0
LAST AT TEMPLE: UT won, 39-37, in 2020
LAST YEAR: USF won, 34-14, in Tampa
ROAD GAMES: USF lost last 16
USF GAME NOTES
So much is at stake for the USF Bulls on Saturday afternoon at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.
The Bulls (1-7, 0-4 AAC) can earn their first American Athletic Conference victory of the season and snap a six-game losing streak. They can capture the program's first road win since 2019. In fact, they are favored to defeat the Temple Owls (2-6, 0-4 AAC), a team they thrashed 34-14 last season at Raymond James Stadium.
All very nice factors to contemplate.
But USF coach Jeff Scott said he's taking nothing for granted, describing the Owls as "a very dangerous team.'' Another factor: USF is winless in Philadelphia (0-4).
"It's a big opportunity, but I told our players just because we've beaten them last year, it means nothing this year,'' Scott said. "I think they have one returning starter on defense and for them, that was a really good thing because they've completely changed their defense. Outside of maybe one or two games, they have played extremely well.
"This is a game that if our guys go out there and play well, we've got a chance to win. If they don't play well, we're going to get beat. No question about it. That's where we are as a team. With anybody left on our schedule, we're going to have to play well in order to win.''
Before the season, most USF fans might have seen Temple on the schedule and projected a victory because of last season's dominance. Scott cautioned against that approach and said such projections have never been in the minds of his players.
"Players watch the video, so it's probably easier for them (to gain perspective),'' Scott said. "Each year is a new year. With NIL, the transfer portal and all those changing, moving clouds out there, you're going to continue to see teams that have a poor year and the next year they're battling for the top. Ultimately, they watch the video. When they saw the first 10 or 12 clips (of Temple), they figured out real quick that those guys can play.''
Temple, which has victories against Lafayette (30-14) and UMass (28-0), was defeated 27-20 in overtime last week at Navy. It has freshman E.J. Warner, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, at quarterback and a running game that has managed just 2.6 yards per carry.
But Temple's big story is on defense. The Owls have the nation's fifth-best pass defense (166.6 yards per game) and they are also fifth in sacks (3.62 per game) and fourth in tackles for loss (8.8 per game), while ranking 42nd nationally in total defense (352.0). The leaders are linebacker Layton Jordan and defensive lineman Darian Varner, who each have 6.5 sacks.
Bulls defensive back Matthew Hill echoed Scott's statements.
Against Temple, the USF players will take nothing for granted.
"The biggest mindset is we try to get better each week,'' Hill said. "We're really not focusing on the past or looking in the rear-view mirror. We've got to come out and prepare the hardest that we've prepared all season.
"We're still fighting for our record and for each other. Coach Scott tells us there are two teams out there. So, it's a 50-50 chance of who's going to win. It's doesn't matter who we're playing. We could be playing the 130th-ranked team in the nation, but we're still going to prepare like we always do. Play with heart and focus, lock in, keep pushing and we shall see great things.''
Bohanon Back In 2023
Quarterback Gerry Bohanon, out with a season-ending shoulder injury, announced that he will return to USF in 2023. Bohanon, a transfer from Baylor, started USF's first seven games before getting injured on a running play during the Oct. 15 game against Tulane.
Scott said Bohanon postponed his shoulder surgery until this Thursday, so he could attend last Saturday's game at Houston, where Katravis Marsh started and freshman Byrum Brown was ready in reserve.
"When you go through serious adversity, that's when you really learn about people,'' Scott said. "Watching Gerry go through the beginning of the season, when it wasn't everything he wanted it to be, then seeing him come back and really start to play well before getting injured … I just have every confidence that he will continue to improve and grow.
"He's still showing us a lot of leadership. When you go through these surgeries, it's my experience that it really depends on the young man what kind of mental toughness, fortitude and work ethic they have. The guys who have that come back stronger and those who don't come back weaker. I have no doubt that Gerry will come back stronger and we're really excited that he decided to be back with us next year.''
Passing Grade For Marsh
Marsh, who made his first career start, was 24-for-34 with 275 yards and one touchdown. Scott was more impressed by this stat — zero turnovers — because he told Marsh the priority was protecting the ball. Marsh engineered touchdown drives of 85, 76, 65 and 67 yards and helped the Bulls to 429 total yards, USF's second-highest total this season.
"I was really pleased with his progression,'' said Scott, who added that Marsh didn't practice during the bye week due to a physical ailment.
Scott said he would like to get action for Brown — and with just four games remaining, the freshman wouldn't burn his redshirt season — but that will be dependent on game situations.
"We'd like to do it, but that's not the top priority,'' Scott said. "The top priority is for Tray Marsh and the offense to play well and for us to win. I would assume there are going to be some opportunities, depending on different situations, where we could get Byrum in there for some experience.''
Mangham, Grier Done For Season?
Scott said two of USF's stalwarts before the season — running back Jaren Mangham (15 rushing touchdowns in 2021) and linebacker Antonio Grier (two-time second-team All-AAC and two-time leading tackler) — might be done for the season.
Mangham suffered an injured ankle at Louisville on Sept. 24 and hasn't played since, so his season production has been limited to 104 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Grier has played in just four games, including a team-leading 10 tackles at Florida on Sept. 17, and suffered a fractured hand at Louisville.
Theoretically, if both players don't return, they would retain this season of eligibility and Grier, who debuted in 2018, could return for a sixth season at USF.
Grier, whose father died last month, has been away from the team for several weeks while handling family business in his hometown of Atlanta.
"I don't know if Antonio is going to play the rest of the year and it's maybe a situation where he needs to take these last four weeks mentally and physically to get healthy and then maybe have an opportunity to come back next year if that's what he chooses,'' Scott said. "But I don't want to make that announcement (yet) because there are still conversations that are taking place right now.''
– Go Bulls –
