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TEMPLE |
SFLA |
Tice, Flowers lead No. 21 USF to 43-7 rout of Temple
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) An improved defense is setting up No. 21 South Florida for a potentially big season.
The Bulls forced six turnovers and held defending American Athletic Conference champion Temple to minus-4 yards rushing Thursday night in a 43-7 victory that extends the team's winning streak to a school-record nine straight games.
Darius Tice rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and USF (4-0) scored at least 30 points in a nation-leading 21st consecutive game.
Dual-threat quarterback Quinton Flowers and an explosive offense usually keys the team's success, however that's beginning to change.
The team had four interceptions Thursday night, boosting its season total to 12 in four games. The Bulls had eight all last season, when USF prospered despite having a leaky defense.
In part because of the strides made on defense, the Bulls have not lost since falling by 16 points to Temple last October in Philadelphia - a setback that wound up costing them a berth in the AAC championship game .
Coach Charlie Strong said rather than dwell on what transpired last year, he and his players focused on the importance of setting a tone for this season's conference race.
''When you play with passion and enthusiasm, that's the kind of performance you'll get,'' Strong said.
Tice scored on runs of 47 and 3 yards. Flowers, coming off accounting for 386 yards and five TDs in a 24-point blowout of Illinois , also ran for two touchdowns to take sole possession of first place on the Bulls' career rushing TD list with 34.
USF's defense, meanwhile, dominated from the start, pressuring Temple's Logan Marchi and coming up with the first three interceptions of the season thrown by the Owls quarterback.
Backup quarterback Frank Nutile was intercepted once, and the Owls also lost two fumbles.
''You're not going to lead very many games when you turn the ball over six times,'' Temple coach Geoff Collins said.
''The thing that we talked about all week was being plus-three in the turnover margin,'' Collins added. ''They're way too good of a team to be negative, especially negative six.''
The Owls (2-2) were held to minus-4 yards net rushing and were outgained 408 yards to 85. Marchi threw for 767 yards, five TDs and no interceptions in his first three starts for Temple, but was just 3 of 13 for 32 yards on Thursday night.
''We've got to get better. We've got to protect the ball, which has been a trademark for us for three entire games,'' Collins said. ''We let that slip a little bit tonight, but we'll get that corrected.''
Defensive end Jacob Martin scored Temple's only touchdown, sacking Flowers and forcing a fumble that the defensive end returned 44 yards in the second quarter.
The teams have developed a little bit of a rivalry over the past three seasons. USF knocked off the then-No. 21 Owls 44-23 in Tampa two years ago and Ryquell Armstead rushed for 210 yards and two TDs to key Temple's 46-30 victory in Philadelphia last October.
Both teams finished 7-1 in league play, with the Owls representing the Eastern Division in the AAC championship game for the second straight year under former coach Matt Rhule, who left for Baylor in December.
Less than a week later, Strong - fired at Texas after three seven-loss seasons - landed at USF, which lost former coach Willie Taggart to Oregon.
Strong inherited a team that won a school-record 11 games and has the Bulls off to their best start since 2011.
THE TAKEAWAY
Temple: The Owls have lopsided losses to Notre Dame and USF wrapped around close wins over Villanova and Massachusetts. The defense has been vulnerable to both the run and pass. Offensively, Collins has to get Marchi and Armstead, who gained 3 yards on 11 carries Thursday night, back on track.
South Florida: Flowers is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, however the Bulls are hardly a one-man show on offense. What's becoming clear as the season progresses, though, is a much-improved defense has a chance to make this a truly special year for USF, which has never won a conference championship.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Playing two consecutive week-night games on national television has given USF some much appreciated attention, however it remains to be seen how much of a difference it makes in the next AP poll. The Bulls climbed one spot after last week's dominant performance against Illinois, and it's difficult to imagine them climbing much higher solely on their rout of Temple.
UP NEXT
Temple: Conference home opener against Houston a week from Saturday.
South Florida: Play a Saturday game for the first time in four weeks, traveling to East Carolina for conference road opener on Sept. 30.
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More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25.
Copyright 2017 by STATS. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
F. Nutile 18 QB
|
F. Nutile | 4/12 | 57 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Marchi 12 QB
|
L. Marchi | 3/13 | 32 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Centeio 16 QB
|
T. Centeio | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
R. Ritrovato 45 FB
|
R. Ritrovato | 5 | 24 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hood 24 RB
|
D. Hood | 5 | 13 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Armstead 7 RB
|
R. Armstead | 11 | 3 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Sharga 4 FB
|
N. Sharga | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gardner 21 RB
|
J. Gardner | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hennessy 58 OL
|
M. Hennessy | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. Nutile 18 QB
|
F. Nutile | 3 | -6 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Centeio 16 QB
|
T. Centeio | 2 | -12 | 0 | -5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Marchi 12 QB
|
L. Marchi | 2 | -24 | 0 | -5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
A. Jennings 17 WR
|
A. Jennings | 0 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Jones 81 WR
|
R. Jones | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Wright 13 WR
|
I. Wright | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
V. Bryant 19 WR
|
V. Bryant | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
F. Johnson 80 WR
|
F. Johnson | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Yancy 14 WR
|
B. Yancy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gardner 21 RB
|
J. Gardner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hood 24 RB
|
D. Hood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Ellick 27 WR
|
M. Ellick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Myarick 85 TE
|
C. Myarick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
C. Russell 22 LB
|
C. Russell | 13-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Randall 2 DB
|
D. Randall | 7-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Chandler 3 DB
|
S. Chandler | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Kwenkeu 35 LB
|
W. Kwenkeu | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Jones 40 LB
|
T. Jones | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Bradley 23 LB
|
S. Bradley | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Graham-Mobley 37 LB
|
I. Graham-Mobley | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Martin 9 DL
|
J. Martin | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Jones 10 DB
|
M. Jones | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Taylor 94 DL
|
J. Taylor | 2-1 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Archibong 95 DL
|
D. Archibong | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Finch 6 DL
|
S. Finch | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Dogbe 98 DL
|
M. Dogbe | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. Booth-Lloyd 99 DL
|
F. Booth-Lloyd | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Dioubate 72 DL
|
K. Dioubate | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Crump 11 DB
|
L. Crump | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thomas 28 DB
|
J. Thomas | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Franklin 36 LB
|
S. Franklin | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Kelly 93 DL
|
D. Kelly | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Levine 51 DL
|
D. Levine | 1-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Roche 90 DL
|
Q. Roche | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
A. Jones 29 K
|
A. Jones | 0/0 | 0 | 1/1 | 1 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. Jones 10 DB
|
M. Jones | 8 | 20.6 | 36 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. Jones 10 DB
|
M. Jones | 2 | 8.5 | 19 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
Q. Flowers 9 QB
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Q. Flowers | 8/20 | 96 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Tice 6 RB
|
D. Tice | 15 | 117 | 2 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Johnson 2 RB
|
D. Johnson | 24 | 106 | 0 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Flowers 9 QB
|
Q. Flowers | 16 | 59 | 2 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Sands 28 RB
|
T. Sands | 6 | 26 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Barr 1 WR
|
C. Barr | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Johnson 2 RB
|
D. Johnson | 0 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. McCants 8 WR
|
T. McCants | 0 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Valdes-Scantling 11 WR
|
M. Valdes-Scantling | 0 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Alaka 12 WR
|
T. Alaka | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Wilcox 89 TE
|
M. Wilcox | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Dillon 85 TE
|
E. Dillon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Clerveaux 86 WR
|
S. Clerveaux | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Salomon 3 WR
|
D. Salomon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
A. Sanchez 43 LB
|
A. Sanchez | 6-1 | 1.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Wilkins 23 CB
|
M. Wilkins | 6-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Fullwood 13 S
|
T. Fullwood | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Da. Thomas 53 LB
|
Da. Thomas | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Reaves 41 DE
|
G. Reaves | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. McGee 21 S
|
K. McGee | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Johnson 34 LB
|
K. Johnson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Nichols 3 CB
|
D. Nichols | 2-1 | 0.0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Sawtelle 54 LB
|
N. Sawtelle | 2-1 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Love 98 DE
|
M. Love | 1-1 | 1.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Abraham 20 S
|
D. Abraham | 1-1 | 1.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jones-Stewart 29 LB
|
D. Jones-Stewart | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Bronson 99 DT
|
K. Bronson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Hoggins 19 CB
|
R. Hoggins | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Jackson 15 DE
|
V. Jackson | 1-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Kegler 90 DT
|
K. Kegler | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Senat 10 DT
|
D. Senat | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Livingstone 94 DE
|
K. Livingstone | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Black 55 DE
|
J. Black | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bayes 4 LB
|
J. Bayes | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
E. Nadelman 35 K
|
E. Nadelman | 5/5 | 44 | 4/4 | 19 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Hernandez 44 P
|
J. Hernandez | 6 | 45.8 | 3 | 54 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Brown 56 DE
|
J. Brown | 1 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Fullwood 13 S
|
T. Fullwood | 2 | 6.5 | 8 | 0 |