Bulls force five turnovers, log 12 tackles for loss
Quarterback Byrum Brown accounts for five touchdowns.
TAMPA, FLA., SEPT. 9, 2023– The USF Football team (1-1) posted its first win under first-year head coach Alex Golesh Saturday in Raymond James Stadium as the Bulls downed Florida A&M (1-1), 38-24, in front of 36,495 fans.
The Bulls won their home-opener for the first time since 2020 and Golesh became the fifth USF head coach to win their home debut. In doing so, USF snapped a 10-game winning streak for FAMU, which has posted back-to-back nine-win seasons.
After losing the turnover and sack battle in the season-opener at Western Kentucky, South Florida turned the tables forcing three turnovers in the first quarter alone and harassing FAMU quarterback Jeremy Moussa with a variety of blitz packages all night. The Bulls ended the game having forced five turnovers forced and recording four sacks while committing no turnovers themselves.
In the first quarter, safeties Logan Berryhill and Jaelen Stokes both recorded their first career interceptions and linebacker Jamie Pettway forced a fumble on a kickoff that was recovered by Mac Harris. Berryhill got another interception in the second half and D.J. Harris recovered a fumble forced by Jhalyn Shuler.
Quarterback Byrum Brown recorded his first victory as a starter, scoring five touchdowns on the night – two rushing and three passing. Brown completed 20-of-34 passes for 197 yards and added 23 yards rushing. Sean Atkins lead the Bulls with five catches for 57 yards, while Naiem Simmons made three catches for 59 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown. Linebacker DJ Gordon led the Bulls with seven tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss as USF held FAMU to 19 yards rushing and recorded 12 tackles for loss.
FAMU closed a 10-point Bulls halftime lead to 7 with a field goal on their first possession of the second half, but Brown extended the Bulls lead to 31-17 three possessions later when he capped a 53-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run, his second of the night.
After forcing a punt on the Bulls’ next possession, FAMU struck back early in the fourth quarter when Jeremy Moussa hit Kelvin Dean with 45-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-11 play to get back within a touchdown and trail 31-24 with 10:04 to play.
The Bulls responded quickly when Brown hit Naiem Simmons streaking up the left sideline for a 31-yard touchdown with 7:39 to play to make it 38-24.
The Bulls took a 24-14 lead to the half after leaving several opportunities to widen the gap on the table.
FAMU came out quick driving 78 yards after receiving the opening kickoff to take a 7-0 lead, but USF quickly established control with a 75-yards drive of its own on the Bulls’ opening possession. A seven-yard pass from Brown to Khafre Brown, the second touchdown connection for the pair in as many weeks, capped the drive.
The Bulls forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and recovered it at the FAMU 17. USF quickly drove the 17 yards for a touchdown, with Brown’s eight-yard run giving the Bulls a 14-7 lead.
USF forced interceptions on back-to-back FAMU possessions in the first quarter, but came away with just three more points and a 17-7 lead after a 27-yard John Cannon field goal just seconds into the second quarter.
The Bulls defense forced another punt, but FAMU pinned USF on its own 1. USF was forced to punt the ball back and FAMU cut the lead to 17-14 after a 58-yard drive capped by a one-yard run from Terrell Jennings.
Kelley Joiner took the ensuing kickoff 52-yards out over midfield, but the Bulls were flagged for a block in the back and started on their own 8. USF didn’t flinch as Brown drove the Bulls 92 yards completing seven passes, but the big strike on the drive came on a trick play with wide receiver Sean Atkins hitting running back Michel Dukes for a 38-yard gain. Brown capped the drive hitting tight end Jayson Littlejohn with a 6-yard pass over the middle for a 24-14 margin.
KEY STATS
• USF forced five FAMU turnovers while not committing a turnover on the night.
• The Bulls recorded four sacks and 12 tackles for loss while holding FAMU to 19 yards rushing.
• The teams combined for 26 penalties in the three hour and 42-minute game.
NOTABLES
• QB Byrum Brown was responsible for five touchdowns on the night, running for two and passing for three.
• S Logan Berryhill got two interceptions on the night, marking the first for his career after moving from safety to wide receiver.
• Head Coach Alex Golesh recorded his first career victory and became the fifth USF coach to win their home debut.
UP NEXT
The Bulls return to Raymond James Stadium next Saturday for a clash with No. 3 Alabama. That game will be televised nationally on ABC.
Season tickets • Single-game tickets • Group tickets (10+): call 1-800-GoBulls
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 26th season in 2022 while completing construction on a new $22 million Indoor Performance Facility. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections, including 2021 consensus All-American kick returner Brian Battie, and had 32 first-team all-conference selections. USF has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft and has made 10 bowl game appearances (going 6-4 in those games), posting a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010 and most recently making four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18. The Bulls posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
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