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Bulls Pour It On, Crush Cardinals

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2007

TAMPA - After halting its three-game losing streak last week, the University of South Florida suddenly has a new streak it's working on - obliterating the opposition.

On USF's Senior Night, the Bulls crushed the Carinals - they left their D in Louisville - 55-17 on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.

For the second consecutive game, the Bulls recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and then ended up pulling their starters after three quarters.

"It was a great win," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "We won in all three phases."

The Bulls, who blasted Syracuse 41-10 last week, have scored 96 points the past two weeks, the second-most in consecutive games in school history against Division I-A opponents. With the win, USF (8-3, 3-3 Big East) kept alive its hopes for a Sun Bowl berth, while the loss likely will end the Cardinals' streak of bowl appearances at nine.

Louisville senior QB Brian Brohm, a projected first-round NFL draft pick, threw a career-high three interceptions and was held to 213 yards passing, his lowest total this season.

"I really liked what defensive coordinator Wally Burnham did, he had a nice game plan," Leavitt said.

Brohm completed 18 of 37 and his 48.6 completion percentage also was a season-worst before an announced crowd of 57,288.

"The defense came alive," USF senior nose tackle Richard Clebert said. "We worked hard. There was a lot of talk about Brohm being one of the best in the country and our cornerbacks did a really nice job."

USF's senior cornerback duo of Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins showed why they are considered the country's top combo. Each had an interception - Williams returned his 64 yards for a touchdown, while Jenkins made a diving grab in the end zone.

"I feel real good, this is one of our biggest wins," Jenkins said. "We had a good game plan. The coaches told us Williams and I would be on our own.

"The whole defense did a great job."

USF's defense forced a school-record tying seven turnovers continuing a winning trend for the Bulls. In their eight wins, the Bulls have forced 30 turnovers and committed only 14.

"We came out and played relentless and played with emotion like we did the first six games," USF sophomore defensive end George Selvie said. "We just wanted to play hard."

While USF's defense frustrated Brohm and Louisville's offense, the Bulls' offense ripped through a Louisville team that brought only 21 defensive players because of injuries and suspensions.

USF had 481 yards of offense and is averaging 496 yards in its past four games.

Freshman running back Mike Ford ripped off a 43-yard run on his first carry and finished with a career-high 140 yards on 24 carries. It topped his previous career high of 134 yards set last week.

"We got in there and we get stronger and stronger as a team as the game goes on," Ford said.

Quarterback Matt Grothe completed 17 of 23 passes for 194 yards, two TDs and one interception. He also ran for 67 yards and a TD.

His two TD passes give him 28 for his career, moving past Chad Barnhardt into second place on the school's all-time list.

Like it did last week at Syracuse, USF recovered the opening kickoff. Only this time, the Bulls returned it for a touchdown.

USF's Jerome Murphy forced a fumble by Louisville's Trent Guy and Nate Allen returned it 3 yards for a touchdown.

In only eight seconds, USF had six points.

"Whenever we score first, we win," Grothe said.

By the end of the first quarter, Ford and Grothe each had touchdown runs as the Bulls led 20-3.

Louisville was still hanging around at 27-10 late in the second quarter when the Bulls put it away with two touchdowns in 29 seconds.

With 2:50 remaining, Grothe found Carlton Mitchell wide open for a 30-yard touchdown. Two plays later, Brohm's pass bounced off UL wide receiver Mario Urrutia's hands and Williams bobbled the ball, then took off 64 yards for a touchdown.

At halftime, the Bulls already had 327 yards of total offense and their lead had ballooned to 41-10.

"No turnovers," Grothe said to the key of USF's offense. "When we lose we have a handful. When we don't lose, we don't have many."

Brohm became the Big East's all-time passing leader on a 9-yard completion to Harry Douglas early in the second quarter. In three seasons since Louisville joined the league, he's thrown for 9,719 yards, giving him 10,538 career yards.

Douglas scored Louisville's first touchdown on a 59-yard reception late in the second quarter. He had eight catches for 136 yards and also a 71-yard reception nullified by a holding penalty.

The victory was the fifth in five meetings for the home team in the USF-Louisville series.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

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