University of Connecticut Athletics
Football Edged at South Florida 17-13
11/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2008) – South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe was 9 of 18 in the air for 124 yards and the Bulls had 142 yards on four kickoff returns to lead the USF to a 17-13 victory over the University of Connecticut on Sunday night before a crowd of 42,422 at Raymond James Stadium.
South Florida improves to 7-4 on the season with the win and 2-4 in the BIG EAST while the Huskies fall to 7-4 and 3-3 in the BIG EAST.
After the Bulls led 10-3 at the half, the Huskies tied the game in the third quarter on a bizarre 12 play-87 yard drive that at up 7:03 of the third quarter. The scoring play accounted for 43 yards of the drive after senior quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (Fremont, Iowa) hooked up on a 46-yard pass play to senior wide receiver Ellis Gaulden (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) after the ball was double-reversed from Lorenzen to junior tailback Donald Brown (Atlantic Highlands, N.J.) to freshman running back Jordan Todman (North Dartmouth, Mass.) back to Lorenzen for the pass.
South Florida got the lead back at 17-10 with 12:36 left in the game on a 25-yard run by Jamar Taylor on a third down play that capped a five play-48 yard drive for the Bulls.
The Huskies then cut the lead to 17-13 on a 21-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Dave Teggart (Northborough, Mass.). The field goal was his 11th consecutive successful field goal attempt to set a new school record. Teggart became UConn's starting kicker four games ago.
Brown led Connecticut in rushing with 28 carries for 96 yards and Lorenzen, making his second start after missing four games with a broken foot, was 10 for 23 in the air for 119 yards and a TD.
The Bulls went out to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, but the Huskies cut the lead with a 22-yard field goal by that capped a 12-play, 41-yard drive as the Huskies ate away 6:46.
UConn gained possession of the ball for that scoring drive when the Huskies held USF on a fourth and one at the Bull 45.
The Bulls made a run at scoring at the end of the first half as Dontavia Bogan returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards to put the ball at the Husky 20. UConn redshirt freshman Aaron Bagsby (Henderson, Nev.) ended the scoring threat with an interception of a Grothe pass.
South Florida scored on the first possession of the game as Bogan returned the opening kickoff 64 yards to the Husky 30. UConn forced a third and seven from the Husky 27, but Grothe completed a 22-yard pass to Taurus Johnson to make it first and goal from the five. Two plays later, Benja Williams scored on three-yard run to make it 7-0 Bulls for the only scoring of the first quarter.
Meanwhile, UConn struggled to move the ball in the first quarter as it failed to move the ball past the 50-yard line.
South Florida scored its only other points of the first half on a 29-yard field goal by Maikon Bonani 2:13 into the second quarter. USF had moved the ball to the UConn 13, but the Husky defense then held tough allowed just one yard on the next three plays to limit the Bulls to the field goal.
The Huskies return to action with the regular season finale on December 6 against Pittsburgh at Rentschler Field. The game will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2 at a time to be announced.
GAME NOTES
* Redshirt freshman Dave Teggart his a 21-yard field goal late in the first quarter and a xx-yarder in the fourth quarter for his tenth and 11th successful FG attempt. That breaks the school record previously set by Matt Nuzie in 2004. Teggart took over the starting kicking duties three games ago and is now a perfect 10 for 10 in FGs.
* Junior linebacker Aaron Bryant made his first career start.
* South Florida's first half kickoff returns of 71 and 64 yards were the two longest given up by the Huskies this year.
* The touchdown reception by senior Ellis Gaulden was the first of his career.
Players Mentioned
