TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bulls Refuse To Be Denied

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRETT McMURPHY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2008

TAMPA - University of South Florida freshman Maikon Bonani's would rather forget the first kick of his collegiate career. However, he will never forget the final kick from his first game.

Bonani drilled a 43-yard field goal with no time remaining, lifting the No. 19-ranked Bulls to a roller-coaster 37-34 victory against No. 13 Kansas on Friday night.

Bonani, who got word on Wednesday he would replace Delbert Alvarado, horribly missed his first attempt from 41 yards, but he connected on his final three field goals before 58,755 at Raymond James Stadium.

So what advice did USF coach Jim Leavitt give his rookie from Lake Wales after Kansas tried to ice him with a timeout?

"Nothing," Leavitt said. "I wouldn't have known what to tell him. He's a great kid. I had confidence in him."

Bonani called his game-winner "unbelievable."

"I've never felt like that before," he said.

Bonani grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before moving to Lake Wales when he was 11. He was mobbed by his teammates after the kick.

"I love Brazil! I love Brazil," shouted USF senior safety Danny Verpaele.

The win for the Bulls, their fourth in a row against a ranked opponent, also breathed life back into the Big East, which had bungled its way through the early part of the college football season.

Early on, USF (3-0) looked like it would be the latest league team to flop when the Bulls fell behind 20-3. However, USF QB Matt Grothe's 28-yard touchdown run 2:14 before halftime sparked a run of 31 consecutive points to give USF a 34-20 lead.

The Bulls appeared in control, only to watch Jayhawks QB Todd Reesing (34-of-51, 373 yards, three TDs) rallied Kansas with two touchdown drives and a tie it at 34 with 5:32 remaining.

KU (2-1) then forced a USF punt and took over with 1:54 remaining. Reesing moved KU to the 40, and the Jayhawks looked like they might drive for a winning field-goal attempt, but Reesing was intercepted by USF free safety Nate Allen, whose 40-yard interception return set up USF at KU's 27.

"I was trying to get to the middle of the field," Allen said. "When the ball was in the air, my eyes lit up because it was a floater."

The Bulls ran one play and then let the clock run down to two seconds before calling a timeout, setting the stage for Bonani.

"He was calm," USF wide receiver Taurus Johnson said. "This is what he's supposed to do, and he did it tonight."

Grothe completed 23 of 45 passes and threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson had seven catches for 82 yards, including an acrobatic TD catch while sliding on his back. Jessie Hester Jr. added seven catches for 56 yards.

USF's Jamar Taylor had 72 yards rushing, including a 13-yard touchdown.

KU's Kerry Meier (11 catches, 120 yards) and Johnathan Wilson (10 catches, 171 yards, two TDs) had monster games for the Jayhawks.

"That quarterback Kansas has ... awesome," Leavitt said. "Defensively we made some mistakes, but Kansas is good, we just kept battling."

The Jayhawks dominated the opening 27 minutes and led 20-3 with 3:24 remaining before halftime on Reesing's 4-yard touchdown.

At that point, Kansas had outgained USF, 267-69. In the final 33 minutes, though, USF outgained KU 389-167.

With the Bulls about to flat-line, Grothe drove the Bulls 69 yards in four plays and scored on a 28-yard touchdown run. Grothe's run pulled USF within 20-10 and sparked life into the Bulls.

Still, Grothe showed his frustration at the end of the half, flailing his arm to the USF sideline when the Bulls didn't have a play called in the final seconds.

In the early going, the Jayhawks' short-drop passing game continually frustrated the Bulls. USF defensive end George Selvie didn't lay a hand on Reesing until 4:53 remained in the second quarter.

At the half, Reesing had thrown for 224 yards, completing 17 of 22 passes, while the Bulls' offense had been held to 166 yards.

In the third quarter, the Bulls outgained Kansas, 213-9.

Selvie led a revitalized defense in the second half and got his first sack of the season, setting a USF career record.

"It felt good, I needed that," Selvie said. "Now it's downhill from there."

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT