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Bulls' Late TDs Don't Irk O'Leary

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 13, 2007

TAMPA - UCF coach George O'Leary said he had no problem with the University of South Florida throwing two fourth-quarter TD passes in the final 5:06 when the Bulls were already up by 38.

'That's football,' O'Leary said. 'Our job is to stop them. Their job is to score. I don't get upset about that.'

Leading 50-12, USF backup QB Grant Gregory hit Carlton Mitchell, on first-and-10, on a 75-yard TD pass with 5:06 remaining. On USF's next possession on fourth-and-14, third-string QB Anthony Severino hit Jessie Hester Jr. on a 28-yard TD pass with 2:16 remaining, making it 64-12.

The TD passes were both the first in Gregory and Severino's careers.

'They should be allowed to run our offense, that's all we did,' said USF offensive coordinator Greg Gregory, who called the plays. 'It didn't matter who we were playing. Those kids have been practicing all year wanting a chance to play. They shouldn't just have to go in and just kneel on the ball.'

POINT A MINUTE: USF's 64 points were the most scored against a Division I opponent and the third-most in school history behind Kentucky Wesleyan (80-3 in 1997) and Cumberland (69-3 in 1998).

USF's 52-point margin of victory was the fourth largest in program history, while it was UCF's second-worst loss behind only a 69-0 defeat to VMI in 1982 when UCF was Division II.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: On consecutive plays in the first quarter, Mitchell and Amarri Jackson dropped would-be 37-yard TD passes from Matt Grothe. Later in the first quarter, Edner Alcin dropped a 44-yard TD pass from Grothe.

'It was frustrating because I wanted to come out and set a tone,' Grothe said. 'But nobody argued or got down on each other. We just kept going.'

SELVIE'S SURGE: USF DE George Selvie had four tackles for loss, giving him a school record 21 1/2 this season, breaking the previous mark of 19 by Craig Kobel (2003) and Kawika Mitchell (2002).

Selvie also added a sack, giving him 11 1/2 for the season, and forced a fumble. He leads the nation in tackles for loss and sacks.

'I play for my family, this family, my Bulls family,' Selvie said. 'I don't want to let my teammates down.'

Freshman Aaron Harris added a career-high three sacks for USF.

ODDS AND ENDS: Best sign inside Raymond James Stadium: 'What does I-4 and UCF's offense have in common? It takes three hours to go 100 yards.' ... USF freshman RB Jamar Taylor made his first start. ... USF's captains were LB Ben Moffitt, SS Carlton Williams, C Jake Griffin and WR Marcus Edwards. ... USF freshman RB Mike Ford returned from his one-game suspension and scored for the fourth time in five games. ... A USF-Rutgers watch party for USF students only will be held Thursday in the Sun Dome, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Brett McMurphy

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