Sophomore Maikon Bonani showed no signs of rust when he calmly drilled a 46-yard field goal in the third quarter of Saturday’s game against Florida Atlantic. It was just his second attempt of the season.

Bonani, who sat out all of last year while recovering from a back injury, said he feels like he’s back to his 2008 form, when he made 15-of-21 attempts as a true freshman.

“To be in a game situation (is different),” Bonani said. “I’ve been at practice for so long – a lot of practice experience. Now just going back to the games, it’s a lot of fun.”

Eric Schwartz won the job after the two battled throughout fall camp, but when he missed from 26 and 46 yards last week against Western Kentucky, Holtz looked to Bonani, who hit from 33 yards.

“I feel good. I feel like I can get the job done if called upon,” Bonani said. “Both of us can kick field goals.

“His stats right now do not speak to how great of a kicker Eric is. Whatever coach chooses to do, we’ll do a good job.”

Holtz said while he hasn’t settled on either kicker just yet, he’s favoring Bonani.

“I really liked the way Bonani kicked the ball,” Holtz said. “He went in, he had a lot of confidence. He was very loose, he was very relaxed. I’ll evaluate them as we go through the week, but we could very easily go with Bonani. I’m very comfortable going that way right now.”

Injury update

Holtz said he held sophomore running back Demetris Murray (sore ankle) and sophomore receiver Sterling Griffin (recovering from dislocated and fractured ankle) out of Saturday’s game because “I just didn’t feel like it was worth it to put them out there with them only probably being 80 percent.”

Murray, who leads the team with 232 rushing yards, and Griffin, a projected starter at receiver heading into the season, practiced Sunday.

Holtz said he expects both to play Saturday against Syracuse.

Junior safety Jerrell Young, who injured his ankle in the first half and left the game, didn’t practice Sunday. Holtz said the team should know more about the injury today or Wednesday.

Plancher, Barrington honored

Senior running back Mo Plancher and sophomore linebacker Sam Barrington were named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll, the conference announced Monday.

Plancher, who is second on the team with 231 rushing yards this season, ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries against FAU.

Barrington, the Bulls’ leading tackler, had eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He leads the team with 23 tackles this season.

Women’s basketball has first practice

In preparation for its upcoming season, the USF women’s basketball team held its first official practice Monday.

The Bulls, who went 15-16 last season and reached the WNIT, return three of their top six scorers from 2009-10.

USF opens the season Friday, Nov. 12 at home against Jacksonville.