November 01, 2026 | Football
Editor's Note: To commemorate the University of South Florida's 30th football season, GoUSFBulls.com is presenting a 12-part series that covers the sights, sounds, milestones, biggest games, top performers and unforgettable personalities from the program's history. The installments will appear each Sunday that precedes a South Florida game week. Today's Part 8 is South Florida's Essential Defensive Plays.
Nineteen years later, it's still the biggest game in University of South Florida football history. When the Bulls defeated the No. 5-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers 21-13 at Raymond James Stadium in a Friday night ESPN2 standalone game on Sept. 28, 2007, it set in motion what would become a 6-0 start for USF and an eventual ascension to the nation's No. 2 ranking.
South Florida's defense set the tone in the first quarter for a start-to-finish performance. Defensive end Jarriett Buie crashed into the backfield and hit the arm of Mountaineers quarterback Patrick White as he began to throw. The dying duck landed in the arms of linebacker Ben Moffitt, who chugged 26 yards into the end zone.
"Nothing but green grass in front of me,'' Moffitt said. "From that moment on, I think West Virginia knew our defense was going to make things very, very difficult for them.''
The video clip of Moffitt's touchdown might be the top visual in USF football history.
But for those who were there — as part of a delirious record crowd of 67,012 that filled every nook and cranny of Ray-Jay — it was more about the sound.
It was that incredible noise.
"I think I felt the ground shaking,'' Bulls defensive end George Selvie said.
"I never heard the stadium louder than it was at that moment and my family had Bucs season tickets for years,'' center Nick Capogna said.
"I have been in a lot of stadiums, but that was the loudest environment I have ever experienced — ever,'' quarterback Matt Grothe said. "I think it's still ringing in my ears. When Ben Moffitt scored, it was on.''
The Bulls allowed 437 yards, each of them hard-earned, but forced six turnovers. The Mountaineers were limited to a pair of field goals from place-kicker Pat McAfee — hey, whatever happened to him? — and a lone touchdown with 5:45 to play.
How good was that West Virginia team? It finished 11-2 and defeated Oklahoma 48-28 at the Fiesta Bowl. The Mountaineers were the nation's ninth-best scoring team (39.6 points per game) and the third-best rushing team (297.2 yards per game). Against USF, though, the Mountaineers managed just 188 rushing yards on 48 carries.
"Why did we win that game?'' Grothe said. "Two words — Wally Burnham.''
Burnham, USF's defensive coordinator, crafted an ultra-athletic unit. Safeties were moved to linebacker. Linebackers were shifted to defensive end. Rapid edge rushers were placed inside. Speed mismatches popped up at nearly every position.
"We looked for certain kinds of players,'' Burnham once said. "In Florida, there's no excuse for not having great speed. We would take a smaller guy if he could run. We were fast and we could make things happen with that speed.''
The Mountaineers had the speed and athleticism that scared most opponents. But the Bulls matched it. From the moment that ball fluttered into Moffitt's arms and he found the end zone — as Ray-Jay became an electrifying sound machine — the Mountaineers knew what they were up against.
It was on.
Here are South Florida's other Essential Defensive Plays:
Four In The Fourth (Oct. 5, 2002) — Entering the final 15 minutes and locked in a 10-10 game, the visiting South Florida Bulls came up with four takeaways in the fourth quarter to secure a 24-17 win against the North Texas Mean Green. There was a fumble recovery by Kawika Mitchell. There were two interceptions by safety Kevin Verpaele. Finally, there was an interception by cornerback D'Juan Brown at the USF 5-yard line with 1:03 remaining.
Sooner Or Later (Sept. 28, 2002) — South Florida linebacker Kawika Mitchell made a huge impression in a 31-14 defeat against the No. 2-ranked and home-standing Oklahoma Sooners during the Bulls' first national television appearance (TBS). Mitchell, who had a game-high five tackles for a loss, had a highlight play when OU reached the Bulls' 1-yard line. Mitchell shot the gap and buried Quentin Griffin for a 2-yard loss.
Picked Off (Oct. 4, 2003) — Bulls sophomore linebacker Devon Davis intercepted Louisville's Stefan LeFlors in the second overtime and nearly went the distance, getting dragged down at the Louisville 20-yard line after pulling a leg muscle. Santiago Gramatica ended it on a 26-yard field goal to cap South Florida's Conference USA home debut, a 31-28 victory against the Cardinals.
Happy Halloween (Oct. 31, 2003) — The home-standing South Florida Bulls, hanging on for dear life, held off Cincinnati 24-17 in two overtimes. After USF scored in its portion of the second OT, the Bearcats drove to USF's 14-yard line. But on first down, Gino Guidugli's first-down pass was deflected and intercepted by defensive lineman Lee Roy Selmon Jr. Game over. No trick, all treat.
Defensive Showcase (Nov. 29, 2003) — Let us count the ways that South Florida defensive back J.R. Reed influenced the Bulls in a 21-16 victory at Memphis. Reed had three interceptions, setting a program record, while also scoring on a 46-yard fumble return. And he also returned the second-half kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown.
No Overtime (Sept. 16, 2006) — The home-standing Central Florida Knights had driven to South Florida's 10-yard line in the final minute. But on fourth-and-6, quarterback Steven Moffett was sacked by Bulls defensive end Chris Robinson, who batted the ball from Moffett's hand. South Florida had preserved a 24-17 victory.
Selvie's Spark (Nov. 25, 2006) — With the No. 7-ranked and home-standing West Virginia Mountaineers up 6-0 in the second quarter, Bulls defensive end Chris Robinson stripped quarterback Pat White. Freshman defensive end George Selvie picked up the fumble and raced 9 yards for the score, helping to spark South Florida's massive 24-19 road upset.
Nate To The Rescue (Sept. 12, 2008) — South Florida's riveting 37-34 home win against the No. 11-ranked Kansas Jayhawks was clinched by Maikon Bonani's walk-off 43-yard field goal. But the game-winner was set up when Bulls safety Nate Allen intercepted KU quarterback Todd Reesing, then returned it 40 yards to the Jayhawks' 27-yard line.
Hard-Hitting (Sept. 26, 2009) — It's remembered as one of the most stunning hits ever administered by a South Florida defensive player. Setting the tone, Bulls freshman defensive back Jon Lejiste leveled Florida State running back Tavares Pressley, causing the first of five Seminole fumbles. The visiting Bulls upset the No. 18-ranked Seminoles 17-7 in a game typified by the remarkable play of freshman quarterback and first-time starter B.J. Daniels. But Lejiste's hit created its own impact. "That one sent us all over the edge,'' safety Nate Allen said.
Earning The Save (Nov. 27, 2010) — Home-standing Miami was setting up for a potential game-winning field goal, but South Florida's Jerrell Young got an interception at the 5-yard line near the end of regulation. The Hurricanes opened overtime with a field goal, then the Bulls won it 23-20 on Demetris Murray's 1-yard run for the program's first victory against UM.
Bowled Over (Dec. 31, 2010) — On the fourth quarter's first play, South Florida's JaQuez Jenkins intercepted Clemson's Tajh Boyd and returned it 48 yards. That set up B.J. Daniels' 8-yard scoring run, giving the Bulls an insurmountable 31-13 lead at the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. The Bulls prevailed 31-26.
Early Momentum (Sept. 3, 2011) — Four minutes into the game, Notre Dame's Jonas Gray was stripped by USF's Jerrell Young. Kayvon Webster picked up the fumble and raced for a 96-yard touchdown. The stunning turnabout set up South Florida's 23-20 upset of the No. 16-ranked Fighting Irish.
Strip Sack (Oct. 12, 2013) — When the visiting South Florida Bulls defeated UConn 13-10, it was the second straight victory without an offensive touchdown. The win was sparked by a 44-yard touchdown fumble return by defensive end Aaron Lynch. It was set up by Ryne Giddins' strip-sack against UConn quarterback Tim Boyle.
Game-Ender (Dec. 29, 2016) — South Florida had gone up on the SEC's South Carolina Gamecocks 46-39 during its portion of overtime at the Birmingham Bowl. Then defensive lineman Mike Love sacked quarterback Jake Bentley. The ball popped loose and linebacker Khalid McGee recovered to end the game and clinch a program-best 11th victory for the Bulls.
Back-To-Back (Oct. 14, 2017) — South Florida linebacker Auggie Sanchez, the program's all-time leading tackler, had a 65-yard interception return on the first half's final play, turning a competitive game into a rout, when the home-standing Bulls defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats 33-3. In USF's previous game at East Carolina, Sanchez had a 43-yard interception-return score.
Pick-Six (Nov. 11, 2023) — Home-standing South Florida got a 22-yard interception return from defensive lineman Tramel Logan to help secure a 27-23 win against the Temple Owls. Logan stepped in front of a short pass attempt from Owls quarterback E.J. Warner, then rumbled into the end zone. It put the Bulls up 27-10 in the third quarter.
Almost Paradise (Dec. 21, 2023) — With the Boca Raton Bowl already a runaway for the South Florida Bulls, the USF defense punctuated a dominant first half. Defensive back Daquan Evans, the bowl's Defensive Most Valuable Player, leveled Syracuse quarterback Braden Davis on the blitz. Bulls defensive lineman Tramel Logan scooped the fumble and raced for a 61-yard touchdown with nine seconds remaining before halftime, giving South Florida a 31-0 advantage. Final: Bulls 45, Orange 0.
Effort Plays (Nov. 23, 2024) — You probably didn't expect defense as a flashpoint in South Florida's 63-30 home victory against Tulsa. But it was. Late in the first quarter, Tulsa running back Anthony Watkins broke into the clear for what appeared to be a 79-yard touchdown. But Bulls cornerback James Chenault, even after Watkins had a 15-yard head start, gained ground and tripped him up at the 2-yard line. Tulsa then failed to score on four downs. Zooming ahead to the third quarter, with USF up 49-7, Tulsa quarterback Kirk Francis found wide receiver Joseph Williams open on the right side. Bulls cornerback Ben Knox gave chase. At around the 10-yard line, Knox caught up, grabbing Williams' pads with his left hand, then reaching to punch the ball loose with his right hand. Knox recovered the fumble in the end zone for a stunning touchback. No quit. All hustle.
Stopped Short (Dec. 24, 2024) —The Hawaii Bowl stretched deep into the night, so it's easy to forget the brilliant defensive play from regulation that made the marathon happen and led South Florida to an epic 41-39 victory against San Jose State in five overtimes. Leading 27-24, San Jose State had a third-and-1 from its 14-yard line as the final minute approached. Bulls defensive lineman Michael Williams II stopped Spartans running back Floyd Chalk IV for no gain. Had Chalk gotten the first down, the game was likely over. But USF's third-down stop forced a punt to set up a game-tying field-goal, opening the door for a classic.
Fantastic First Play (Nov. 6, 2025) — On the first snap from scrimmage, during an ESPN Thursday night showcase game, South Florida defensive back Jarvis Lee blitzed and disrupted the rhythm of UTSA quarterback Owen McCown. The ball wound up in the hands of safety Tavin Ward, who returned the interception for a 40-yard touchdown. It began an avalanche of points and a convincing 55-23 victory against the Roadrunners, who were coming off an eye-opening rout of Tulane.
–#GoBulls–
Joey Johnston
Athletics Senior Writer
