USF coach Skip Holtz knew the game against Florida was ultimately decided by turnovers. But aside from those mistakes, Holtz praised the team from an execution standpoint.

“I thought they played very well,” he said Sunday. “I thought we ran the ball extremely well. I thought our offensive line played really well. There were a lot of positive things on offense to build on. Defensively, same thing.”

The Bulls rushed for 244 yards on 39 carries Saturday after Florida held Miami (OH) to 4 yards rushing on 22 carries in the first week.

Despite the four interceptions, quarterback B.J. Daniels rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries and engineered some impressive drives, including a 17-play, 96-yard touchdown-scoring drive, which took up the majority of the first quarter.

Holtz specifically praised the way the defensive line pressured Florida and the overall play of the defense. He also said that, despite his costly fumble, sophomore running back Demetris Murray, who rushed for 62 yards on 11 carries, “was tremendous.”

“They all played well enough to win. That’s what’s the frustrating part,” Holtz said. “I’m not just trying to point a finger, but I mean talk about the elephant in the room. I don’t think you can talk about this game and talk around the turnovers. We’ve got to learn how important that ball is.”

Bogan a wait-and-see

As of Sunday evening, Holtz said senior receiver Dontavia Bogan, who suffered a right ankle injury in the first quarter but played the rest of the game, had swelling Sunday. The severity of the injury is unknown.

Holtz said he would have a much better idea of Bogan’s prognosis today.

“I’m glad we have the open date this week,” Holtz said. “It could be a sprained ankle, and in two weeks, and he could be fine. It may be a broken bone that’s going to be six weeks. I just don’t know.”

Bogan, the team’s most experienced receiver, caught one pass for 12 yards.

“I give him an awful lot of credit,” Holtz said. “He did it there very early in the game and ended up playing 34 plays in this game and really went hard on it. He fought through an awful lot of pain and never said a word – just kept on playing. But he is injured.”

Etc.

The Bulls will start preparing for Western Kentucky next week, focusing this week on correcting mistakes, Holtz said … Senior defensive end David Bedford, who had five solo tackles and a tackle for a loss Saturday, has “been the biggest surprise this season,” Holtz said. “A lot of guys on this football team can learn from the effort and attitude he has.” … OL John McGhin, who’s been out with a hip injury, could return next week, Holtz said.