Halftime: USF 17, Louisville 10

Posted Nov 25, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Nov 25, 2011 at 01:34 PM

USF looked to be headed to the locker room with a two-touchdown lead over visiting Louisville, but the visiting Cardinals scored a late touchdown to seize momentum heading into the break despite trailing the Bulls, 17-10.

USF running back Demetris Murray scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 35 seconds remaining in the second quarter, but the Cardinals were able to muster a quick answer. Louisville’s Senorise Perry returned a squib kick to the USF 25 on the ensuing kickoff, and two plays later Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver DeVante Parker to make it a one-score game.

The Bulls put together three consecutive scoring drives to take grab the halftime lead, with two touchdown drives sandwiching a Maikon Bonani 40-yard field goal. Both touchdown drives had a common theme – with USF converting a fourth down from Louisville’s 35 yard line.

The first touchdown came with USF seemingly catching the Cardinals off-guard a bit. Facing fourth-and-3, Bulls coach Skip Holtz originally sent in his punt team, which prompted Louisville to call for a timeout. Then, coming out of the break, USF had its offense on the field, and with the Cardinals scrambling to get the right personnel on quarterback Bobby Eveld connected with receiver Lindsey Lamar on a 35-yard scoring pass to give the Bulls their first lead, 7-3, at the 13:30 mark of the second quarter.

USF again faced a fourth down at the Cardinals 35 two possessions later, and this time the Bulls went to a wildcat package, with receiver Victor Marc taking a direct snap and running four yards for a first down. The Bulls followed by converting consecutive third downs, the last of which was Murray’s 1-yard touchdown run that made it a 17-3 game with 35 seconds left before the break.

Eveld, starting in place of an injured B.J. Daniels, was 9-for-14 passing for 144 yards and a touchdown in the opening half, and USF outgained Louisville, 197-170 in the opening 30 minutes.

The Bulls will get the ball to start the second half.