Rutgers stuns USF in overtime

Posted Nov 6, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Nov 6, 2011 at 01:05 AM

PISCATAWAY, N.J. With 7:38 left to play Saturday night, it looked like the University of South Florida was finally going to break back into the win column. Then the wheels fell off.

USF couldn’t protect a 14-point fourth-quarter lead, the Bulls missed a short field goal attempt at the end of regulation, and Rutgers eventually completed its rally in overtime in a stunning 20-17 USF loss in front of 36,911 at High Point Solutions Field.

“It’s tough,” USF junior running back Demetris Murray said. “That one right there sucked the win out of us pretty bad.”

The Bulls (4-4, 0-4) led 17-3 midway through the fourth quarter, but Rutgers (6-3, 3-2) used a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to kick start a run of 17 straight points and send the shocked Bulls to their fourth straight loss, the worst losing streak in program history. Scarlet Knights kicker San San Te converted a 37 yard-field goal after USF turned the ball over on its only overtime possession. It was USF’s first loss in overtime, snapping a run of eight straight wins in extra time.

“Just a game of highs and lows emotionally,” USF coach Skip Holtz said. “I feel bad for our seniors, and I feel bad for the guys in that locker room that played so hard. We had our opportunities. We just couldn’t make the most of them.”

After a porous effort from both teams in the opening quarter, USF got on the board first by taking advantage of some solid field position. The Bulls marched 58 yards in nine plays, with quarterback B.J. Daniels throwing a 23-yard scoring pass to receiver Victor Marc to finish the drive and give the Bulls a 7-0 lead with 6:11 left in the second quarter. It was the only pass play on the drive for the Bulls, who got big third-down conversion runs from both Darrell Scott (19 carries, 100 yards) and Murray (82 total yards) on the drive.

USF would add a field goal late in the first half, cashing in on a sack-and-strip from defensive end Ryne Giddins that resulted in the game’s first turnover, to take a 10-0 lead into the break.

The Bulls’ first turnover of the game helped Rutgers get on the scoreboard. Punt returner Marc attempted to field a bouncing ball in traffic but couldn’t squeeze it, and the Scarlet Knights recovered at the USF 12. Linebacker Sam Barrington came up with a key sack on third down to force a field goal attempt, which Te converted from 33 yards out to make it a 10-3 game.

USF eventually pushed its lead back to 14 points with a key fourth-quarter touchdown drive. The Bulls marched 89 yards in 13 plays, and like their other touchdown drive, most of the damage came on the ground.

Ten of the plays were runs, including a 23-yard scamper from receiver Lindsey Lamar that helped the Bulls amass 221 rushing yards, and USF was 2-for-2 on third down before Murray punched it in with 7:38 to play. The lead, however, was short-lived.

Rutgers’ Jeremy Deering returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to make it a 17-10 game, and the Scarlet Knights put together an 80-yard touchdown drive in the final moments to pull even. Quarterback Chas Dodd (11-for-17, 125 yards), who entered in relief of an ineffective Gary Nova, connected seven times on the drive with receiver Mohamed Sanu (11 receptions, 113 yards), including once for 11 yards on 4th-and-9, and then threw a 34-yard strike to Brandon Coleman with 1:08 to play to tie the game.

Both teams then squandered chances in the final minute. Rutgers had the ball at the USF 49 with 49 seconds to play, but Dodd was intercepted by Kayvon Webster. Then, the Bulls used a 34-yard screen pass to Murray and a 30-yard run by Daniels on consecutive plays to reach the Scarlet Knights’ 10, but Maikon Bonani missed a 27-yard field goal as time expired.

“I had an opportunity to win the game, and I didn’t. That solely rests on my shoulders,” said Bonani, who also missed from 47 yards earlier in the game. “There are a bunch of plays in a football game, but for that one play it’s my responsibility to do my job, and I failed to do so tonight.”

Daniels (18-for-34, 160 yards) was intercepted on USF’s first overtime possession by Duron Harmon, and though the Rutgers offense stalled on its possession Te connected on the 37-yard field goal to complete the comeback.

“It hurts. It’s unfortuante,” Daniels said. “We still have a couple games to try and pick the season up.”

USF travels to play at Syracuse on Friday.