South Florida Suffocation
Make no mistake about South Florida’s feelings for West Virginia. Any respect for the Mountaineers disappears once the Bulls step on the football field as domination takes over. Nowhere was it more evident than going for and achieving two fourth down conversions with a game still wide open, both from midfield. It’s an act that implies no confidence in the opponents ability to make a stop. They play aggressive in every fact of the game while the Mountaineers seem to whither and fold in the face of the challenge. Is it a mind block for West Virginia, or are they truly intimidated by this fast, hostile Bulls team?
The Mountaineers started the game on the right note taking the opening drive 80 yards in 5:18 for a touchdown. It was a solid, sustainable drive featuring Jarrett Brown’s passing and rushing skills almost exclusively. Brown scored the touchdown on 3 yard sprint out. For at least the first drive, West Virginia’s offense appeared to have answers for the Bulls defense that has stifled them in the past.
On the ensuing possession, redshirt freshman quarterback BJ Daniels made a mockery of the Mountaineer pass rush by buying time with his legs to hit a streaking Carlton Mitchell for a 49 yard touchdown. For the entire first half the Mountaineer pass rush gave Daniels time that could be measured with a sun dial.
The Bulls defense was zapped back into Mountaineer manhunt mode by the big touchdown play and the screaming South Florida crowd. They held West Virginia to just 74 yards of offense after the 80 yard opening drive. Noel Devine was smothered almost as soon as he touched the pigskin. Jarrett Brown’s elusiveness was constantly challenged with defensive ends John Pierre Paul and George Selvie crashing in from the sides.
West Virginia’s defense took advantage of a phenomenal Scott Kozlowski punt that trapped South Florida at their own one yard line. Linebacker JT Thomas shot threw his gap to hit Jamar Taylor for a safety on the Bulls first play from the tough position. That ended the first quarter with the score 10-9 South Florida.
Besides the safety, the Mountaineers defense was like Swiss cheese. They allowed 267 first half yards including BJ Daniel passing touchdowns of 49 and 11 yards. Daniels also connected with go-to receiver Carlton Mitchell for 69 yards to put the Bulls inside the West Virginia 10 yard line. The Bulls took their hot hand to the locker room up 20-12.
West Virginia came out of halftime and did exactly what they needed to do. The Mountaineer defense forced a three and out. The South Florida punt gave Jarrett Brown and company the football on their own 37 yard line. Mixing a lethal combination of run and pass, the Mountaineers methodically drove 63 yards capped by an 11 yard Brown touchdown run. Head coach Bill Stewart decided it was too early to go for the two-point conversion and kicked the extra point. West Virginia was within one point of the Bulls down 20-19.
South Florida answered the call with a 69 yard drive of their own as BJ Daniels struck for his third touchdown pass of the night, a six yard toss to Sterling Griffin. This put the Bulls comfortably on top 27-19.
After a giving up the long drive, the Mountaineer defense morphed to a bend-not-break philosophy. Both the Bull’s and Mountaineer’s defenses dialed up pressure on the quarterback, but it was the Bull’s faster defense that was able to contain and frustrate Brown. The South Florida linebackers were outstanding as Noel Devine never shook loose finishing with just 42 rushing yards. On the other side, BJ Daniels consistently found the outside of the Mountaineer’s defense unoccupied by defenders allowing him to scramble for significant yardage. For the second week in a row, West Virginia’s secondary made a mediocre quarterback look like a Heisman Candidate.
Time eventually ticked away on West Virginia as their offense sputtered into the ditch. One final drive fell short when the offensive line imploded for a 10 yard and 5 yard penalty inside South Florida territory. The penalties removed the Mountaineers from field goal range and the offense never recovered. South Florida would successfully pull off the upset 30-19 in front of a jubilant Raymond James Stadium.
West Virginia falls to 6-2 with a 2-1 Big East record. The Mountaineers face Louisville at home next weekend. South Florida is now also 6-2, but they must fight an uphill battle in the Big East from their 2-2 conference record. The Bulls travel to Jersey to take on Rutgers on Thursday, November 12.