Bulls fall out of Big East chase with loss
CINCINNATI, OHIO — With highlight reel catches and two goal-to-go stands, the Cincinnati Bearcats handed the No. 23 South Florida football team its third loss of the year, winning 24-10.
The Bulls netted 182 rushing yards, but failed to turn those into points when it was most crucial — near the goal line.
“When you get the ball inside the 10 (yard line) two times and not to convert two times, there’s no excuse for that,” USF coach Jim Leavitt said. “We just didn’t look very good the first, or second, time we were down there.”
USF trailed by 14 late in the fourth, and twice drove the ball inside the 10-yard line of the Bearcats.
Twice, the Bulls walked away with nothing.
USF drove the ball to the Bearcats’ 2-yard line, but a false start penalty pushed USF back to the seven. After two rushing plays netted two yards, Grothe threw two incomplete passes.
Junior quarterback Matt Grothe said Cincinnati just had USF’s number.
“We couldn’t do anything,” he said. “They did a good job of stopping us, and we did a good job of stopping ourselves.”
Senior running back Ben Williams, who led the team with 79 rushing yards, said USF hurt itself.
“We’ve got to cut away the penalties,” Williams said. “We had a great opportunity, with the ball in the red zone, and it took away a good opportunity to score.”
The loss puts the Bulls out of the Big East title picture, Leavitt said.
More Stories
USF women’s basketball’s NCAA tournament run crushed by Tennessee
USF women’s basketball’s season has come to an end after a 101-66 route by Tennessee on Friday. Two of the Bulls’ (23-11, 13-4 AAC) strengths this season — defense and ball security — were their weakest links in the 35-point loss. Related: USF looks to upset powerhouse Tennessee in first round of March Madness USF […]
USF looks to upset powerhouse Tennessee in first round of March Madness
USF women’s basketball will play a postseason mainstay in the first round of this year’s NCAA tournament. USF (23-10, 13-4 AAC) will play Tennessee in the Round of 64 on Friday night after the Bulls secured a March Madness bid with their American Athletic Conference championship. Tennessee (22-9, 8-8 SEC) is one of the most […]
USF to play Tennessee in first round of NCAA tournament
The selection committee has made its choice. No. 12 seeded USF women’s basketball will play No. 5 Tennessee Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Columbus, Ohio The Lady Volunteers (22-9, 8-8 SEC) finished the season No. 20 in the AP rankings. They lost 84-76 in the second round of the Southeastern […]
PHOTOS: USF baseball wins series against Maryland
Timely hitting and solid pitching led the Bulls to their first series win since Feb. 23 on Sunday. Friday, normally a day where the Bulls excel, was their sole loss of the series. Junior pitcher Corey Braun gave up 4 runs in 5 innings pitched, he was handed his first loss of the season. The […]
USF baseball bounces back in first home series win since opening weekend
The Bulls bounced back from their back-to-back series losses over the weekend with a pair of wins over Maryland. USF flipped their usual script, pulling out wins on Saturday and Sunday. The wins marked the first time this season USF (9-8) won on both days. In Friday night’s game, junior pitcher Corey Braun struggled uncharacteristically […]
USF starts search for next men’s basketball coach
USF will begin a search for its next men’s basketball coach after interim coach Ben Fletcher was thrust into the role in October, the university announced Friday. USF Athletics Director Michael Kelly thanked Fletcher for his leadership “under extraordinary circumstances,” and confirmed the national search for a new head coach. Fletcher – who was a […]