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Missed Chances Prove Costly

By BRIAN WELCH

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 7, 2008

Updated: 12/07/2008 12:56 am

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Squandered red-zone opportunities came back to haunt South Florida once again in the Bulls' 13-7 loss at West Virginia on Saturday night.

Despite marching inside the WVU 20-yard line on three occasions, USF entered halftime with only seven points as a result of two crucial turnovers.

After WVU quarterback Pat White capped the Mountaineers' game-opening, 11-play drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Urban, USF answered with a long drive of its own.

Relying heavily on running backs Mike Ford, Benjamin Williams and Jamar Taylor, the Bulls' methodical offense moved 59 yards on an assortment of power running plays in advancing to the 10.

On first-and-goal with 3:25 remaining in the first quarter, USF seemed poised to even the score when it called on Ford for his sixth carry of the 13-play drive. But after gaining 4 yards, Ford was stripped by WVU safety Sidney Glover, who recovered to end the Bulls' first offensive trip inside prime real estate.

USF fared better on its second red-zone trip.

After a 29-yard pass from Matt Grothe to wide receiver Dontavia Bogan gave USF a first and goal at the WVU 8-yard line, Grothe eventually ran 6 yards into the end zone on third-and-goal to tie the score at 7.

However, the Bulls' red-zone woes again would cost them dearly in the waning moments of the first half.

Starting from its own 24-yard line with 3:15 to play before intermission, USF relied on timely passes from Grothe and excellent clock management to set itself up with a first-and-10 from the WVU 15-yard line with 33 seconds before intermission.

On the ensuing play, Grothe dropped back and lofted a pass that was intended for wide receiver Taurus Johnson, but Glover came up with the interception.

The turnover proved to be doubly costly. In addition to costing USF the chance to take a halftime lead, the interception gave WVU an opportunity to move to the USF 28-yard line in just five plays.

WVU kicker Pat McAfee capped off the quick drive with a 45-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Mountaineers a 10-7 halftime advantage and a huge swing in momentum.

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