Post by cviller on Sept 28, 2007 23:42:53 GMT -5
Ouch! Bulls Upset Mountaineers Again
MetroNews Sports
Tampa, Fla.
West Virginia didn't do much to help itself Friday night. The No. 5 Mountaineers committed six turnovers and Pat White went down with an injury on the way to a 21-13 loss to No. 18 South Florida.
The atmosphere was everything the South Florida fans had promised. A raucous Raymond James was loud the whole game. It was the first time the Bulls ever sold out the NFL stadium.
The swarming South Florida defense stuffed the West Virginia rushing attack, holding Steve Slaton to just 54 yards on 13 carries and no touchdowns. White only had 36 yards rushing in the first half before he left with a bruised thigh. He would not return.
In the end, it was the turnovers that did in the Mountaineers. In the first quarter Ben Moffitt picked off White and returned it 27 yards for the first score of the game and set the tone for the night. It was just the second game this season that the Mountaineers had trailed, and they did not regain the lead.
South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe showed his poise by eluding a sack in the second quarter. When he popped out of the scrum, he was able to find Carlton Mitchell all alone behind the West Virginia secondary for a 55-yard touchdown pass. Mitchell appeared to step out of bounds around the ten-yard line. But after a review, officials said the video evidence was inconclusive and the touchdown stood. The Bulls led 14-3 at the half and both teams had committed four turnovers.
West Virginia continued to shoot itself in the foot in the second half. After South Florida drove the field and scored on a Jamar Taylor touchdown run, the Mountaineers had to settle for another field goal and then turned the ball over two more times -- once when backup quarterback, Jarrett Brown, threw an ill-advised pass across his body into the middle of the field and was picked off by Nate Allen. The kicker -- it was in the end zone. The Mountaineers were able to hold the Bulls to a three and out, but had blown yet another scoring opportunity.
Despite all the turnovers and ineptitude on offense, the Mountaineers were still in the game at the very end and had a chance to tie it, albeit a long shot. West Virginia was able to get the ball back with just under three minutes remaining in the game. It started when Johnny Dingle sacked Grothe at the 15-yard line on a third down, but punter Delbert Alvarado boomed a 51-yard punt to pin the Mountaineers deep in their own territory. Brown converted a fourth and eleven to keep the drive alive, but a low pass from Brown to Wes Lyons hit the turf and the Mountaineers hit the showers with a loss.
Brown finished 11 of 20 passing for 149 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. White was 12 of 18 for 100 yards and an interception before he left the game in the second quarter.
South Florida's Grothe was 11 of 20 passing for 135 yards passing, a touchdown and two interceptions. But it was the Bulls defense that was the shining star on this South Florida night. Linebacker Ben Moffit had eight tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
MetroNews Sports
Tampa, Fla.
West Virginia didn't do much to help itself Friday night. The No. 5 Mountaineers committed six turnovers and Pat White went down with an injury on the way to a 21-13 loss to No. 18 South Florida.
The atmosphere was everything the South Florida fans had promised. A raucous Raymond James was loud the whole game. It was the first time the Bulls ever sold out the NFL stadium.
The swarming South Florida defense stuffed the West Virginia rushing attack, holding Steve Slaton to just 54 yards on 13 carries and no touchdowns. White only had 36 yards rushing in the first half before he left with a bruised thigh. He would not return.
In the end, it was the turnovers that did in the Mountaineers. In the first quarter Ben Moffitt picked off White and returned it 27 yards for the first score of the game and set the tone for the night. It was just the second game this season that the Mountaineers had trailed, and they did not regain the lead.
South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe showed his poise by eluding a sack in the second quarter. When he popped out of the scrum, he was able to find Carlton Mitchell all alone behind the West Virginia secondary for a 55-yard touchdown pass. Mitchell appeared to step out of bounds around the ten-yard line. But after a review, officials said the video evidence was inconclusive and the touchdown stood. The Bulls led 14-3 at the half and both teams had committed four turnovers.
West Virginia continued to shoot itself in the foot in the second half. After South Florida drove the field and scored on a Jamar Taylor touchdown run, the Mountaineers had to settle for another field goal and then turned the ball over two more times -- once when backup quarterback, Jarrett Brown, threw an ill-advised pass across his body into the middle of the field and was picked off by Nate Allen. The kicker -- it was in the end zone. The Mountaineers were able to hold the Bulls to a three and out, but had blown yet another scoring opportunity.
Despite all the turnovers and ineptitude on offense, the Mountaineers were still in the game at the very end and had a chance to tie it, albeit a long shot. West Virginia was able to get the ball back with just under three minutes remaining in the game. It started when Johnny Dingle sacked Grothe at the 15-yard line on a third down, but punter Delbert Alvarado boomed a 51-yard punt to pin the Mountaineers deep in their own territory. Brown converted a fourth and eleven to keep the drive alive, but a low pass from Brown to Wes Lyons hit the turf and the Mountaineers hit the showers with a loss.
Brown finished 11 of 20 passing for 149 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. White was 12 of 18 for 100 yards and an interception before he left the game in the second quarter.
South Florida's Grothe was 11 of 20 passing for 135 yards passing, a touchdown and two interceptions. But it was the Bulls defense that was the shining star on this South Florida night. Linebacker Ben Moffit had eight tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.