USF scores 50, but manages to lose

by Gary Shelton on November 5, 2023

in general

Sunday, 3 a.m.

It is safe to say that any improvement on the part of the USF Bulls is all offensive.

The Bulls lost again Saturday. They gave up more than 50 points again. They flirted with the lead and didn’t hold it. Again.

This time, they scored 50.

On the other hand, they gave up 59 to Memphis.




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It has gone that way for the Bulls for most of the first year of coach Alex Golesh. The Bulls have been able to put up points, but they can’t slow down the other team.

Take Saturday, when USF had one of the worst imaginable starts. They gave up a touchdown in five plays, then fumbled on their own third play. Memphis scored again one play later.

Still, the Bulls came back and took a 42-38 lead late in the third quarter. Memphis scored  21 straight points afterward, however.

Quarterback Seth Henigan threw for 349 yards for the Tigers, with 309 of those coming in the first half.  Two of his receivers, Roc Taylor (159) and Demeer Blankumsee (149) had more than 100 yards receiving.

For the Bulls, quarterback  Byrum Brown threw for 357 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for 100 yards.

USF is home Saturday at noon against Temple.

FSU 24, Pitt 7: FSU earned its way a to a berth in the ACC title game with a win.

The Panthers gave fourth-ranked FSU a solid game despite a lopsided loss the previous week against Notre Dame.

FSU scored two third-quarter touchdowns to pull away from the Panthers.

Quarterback Jordan Travis threw for 360 yards to lead the Seminoles, who move to 7-0.

Running back Trey Benson ran for 97 yards. Receiver Ja'Khi Douglas caught six passes for 115 yards.

FSU is home Saturday against Miami.

The Bulls, who gave up 56 each to Alabama-Birmingham and Florida Atlantic, 

Arkansas 39, Florida 36 (overtime): The special teams were terrible. The defense was invisible. And the offense of the Florida Gators couldn’t keep up in an upset by a Razorback team that came in with only two wins.

Quarterback K.J. Jefferson led Arkansas to a winning overtime drive to lead his team to its first-ever win in Gainesville Saturday. The Razorbacks amassed 461 yards in the victory to lower the Gators’ record to 5-4 with three ranked opponents ahead.

Jefferson threw for 255 yards and rushed for 92 in the win. In overtime, he overcame a first-and-20 situation to set up his winning touchdown, a four-yard slant to Tyrone Broden.

The Gators had rallied in the fourth period but couldn’t hold a lead. A botched extra point and a missed field goal that would have won the game hurt Florida’s effort.

Running back Trevor Etienne had given the Gators a lead with back-to-back plays of a 41-yard reception and a 26-yard run.

For Arkansas, Raheim Sanders rushed for 103 yards and Andrew Armstrong caught passes for 103.

Florida will play at LSU on Saturday.

N.C. State 20, Miami 6: For a long time, the Hurricanes will remember fourth-and-one at the Wolfpack 3.

There was 9:48 left in the game, and the Canes trailed 10-6. They were close to taking the lead.

And they fell short. N.C. State stopped Mark Fletcher cold. Then N.C. State drove 97 yards to clinch the game on a 31-yard touchdown run by Kendrick Raphael.

Fletcher ran for 115 yards for Miami.

The Hurricanes travel to play FSU on Saturday.

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