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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 14, 2007

Updated: 10/13/2007 11:55 pm

TAMPA - Perhaps the University of South Florida should reconsider making UCF into an annual series. That way, the Bulls will have a guaranteed win on the schedule every year.

Dominating from the outset, No. 5 USF turned the so-called rivalry into the Snore on I-4, rolling to a 64-12 victory Saturday. It was USF's third-highest point total as the Bulls started 6-0 for the first time in school history.

'I hope they like what happened, because we weren't trying to run the score up on them,' USF quarterback Matt Grothe said. 'We're that much better than them.'

With Kentucky's upset of No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Cal's loss to Oregon State, USF is projected to be No. 2 or 3 in today's initial BCS rankings. The top two teams in the final BCS rankings in December qualify for the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7.

Despite the blowout, USF senior nose tackle Richard Clebert wanted even more.

'I don't think it was good enough,' Clebert said. 'I told Coach Jim Leavitt we should have gone for an onside kick at the end, because they would have done the same thing.'

USF won its eighth consecutive game, tying the school record set in 2001-02. USF's winning streak also is tied with Hawaii and Boston College for the nation's longest.

Grothe rushed for 100 yards and two TDs and threw for 212 yards and two scores as the Bulls rolled up 543 yards, their most against a Division I-A team and third-most in school history. USF's 365 yards passing also were a school record.

Not that the Bulls need any added incentive against the Knights (3-3), but that's what they got when a UCF fan Web site made disparaging remarks about USF linebacker Ben Moffitt's wife this week.

Moffitt addressed the issue with the team a few days ago.

'He said, 'They've really made it personal,'' USF safety Carlton Williams said. 'And we took it personally, especially talking about somebody in our family. When that happens, you take that to heart. You talk with your pads.'

Led by an inspired defense, the Bulls held UCF's offense to 145 yards.

'We're a family,' Moffitt said. 'They have my back, I have theirs. That's a good feeling.'

Grothe was pulled late in the third quarter, but Leavitt and offensive coordinator Greg Gregory didn't let up. Leading 50-12 in the fourth quarter, USF threw two touchdown passes in the final 5:06 to complete the 64-12 rout.

'I didn't really want to do that, I guess, but we did,' Leavitt said.

UCF coach George O'Leary said he had no problem with USF's late scores. Gregory said he was rewarding the backups with some rare playing time.

'There were some things written personally about our players, and they were bothered by it a lot,' Leavitt said. 'We wanted to play 60 minutes of football. And we just want to keep our mouths shut and go out and play football and do that and do it on the field.'

UCF running back Kevin Smith, who came in rushing a national-best 172 yards per game, was limited to 55 yards on 18 carries.

'You could see lots of green jerseys when he got the ball,' USF defensive line coach Dan McCarney said.

Without a consistent running attack, the Knights were no match for USF before an announced Raymond James Stadium crowd of 65,948.

USF scored its first 19 points off UCF turnovers. The turning point came with 1:03 remaining before halftime when USF took over at its 31.

Grothe drove the Bulls to UCF's 9, but only seven seconds remained. Leavitt contemplated kicking the field goal instead of risking a sack.

'I was torn what to do,' Leavitt said. 'Matt and wide receiver Taurus Johnson said, 'It's there.'

'I looked at them and thought, 'I'm the coach, we're going to do what I want to do, and I said OK.''

Grothe tossed a perfect strike to Johnson in the northwest corner of the end zone with two seconds left to make it 29-10.

UCF pulled within 19-10 with 7:26 remaining in the half, but USF outscored the Knights 45-2 the remaining 37 minutes.

'I can't believe anybody would beat us like that,' UCF quarterback Kyle Israel said.

Johnson, who had six catches, including two touchdowns, said the Bulls accomplished their goal.

'It was nice to score 64,' Johnson said. 'We wanted to run them out of the stadium, and that's we did.'

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

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