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Bulls Fall At UConn

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Nick Carboni/The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Husky running back Andre Dixon rushed for a career high 167 yards on a career high 32 carries as No. 23 UConn (7-1, 3-0 Big East) upset the tenth-ranked University of South Florida (6-1, 1-2), 22-15.

It was USF's second-consecutive loss after last week's defeat at Rutgers.

The Bulls had several chances late in the game at Rentschler Field. USF ran 30 plays in UConn territory in the fourth quarter but came away with two field goals.

The Bulls best chance came with 54 seconds remaining.

On fourth-and-goal from the UConn 12, quarterback Matt Grothe's pass went sailing out of bounds, intended for Dontavia Bogan in the back of the end zone. UConn quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (13-for-25 194 yards, one touchdown) took a knee for the win.

USF's previous drive ended on a 27-yard Delberto Alvarado field goal after Mike Ford's two-yard touchdown run was called back because of a hold by Cedric Hill. On third down, Hill dropped a loft pass on the left side of the end zone.

On that drive, Grothe converted a fourth-and-seven pass to Carlton Mitchell for ten yards before running the ball up the middle to the one. But a sack by Husky linebacker Greg Robinson set up the incomplete pass to effectively end things.

USF scored on a safety and a touchdown in the third quarter and two field goals in the fourth. The safety was a near-touchdown after Husky punter Desi Cullen was blocked by Jerome Murphy. Mitchell nearly fell on the ball but it was recovered by the Huskies in the end zone. Grothe later ran for a 10-yard score.

The Bulls came out sluggish in the first half gaining 141 yards to UConn's 251. The Huskies gained 14 first downs in the opening half compared to the Bull's four.

Dixon kept the Husky offense rolling, finishing the first half with 115 yards.

The Bulls had plenty of chances in the first half as well. They reached the red zone on their first two drives, but Alvarado missed field goal attempts of 26 and 44 yards.

The Huskies took advantage on their first drive of the second quarter. On a first-and-goal from the Bulls' three, Lorenzen faked to Dixon and found tight end Steve Brouse wide open in the end zone. A high snap spoiled the extra-point attempt.

Then things went from bad to worse.

On South Florida's third play from scrimmage in the second quarter, UConn linebacker Scott Lutrus intercepted a tipped Grothe pass by defensive end Julius Williams and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown.

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