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Freshman Clutch In His Debut

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2008

Updated: 09/14/2008 12:12 am

TAMPA - University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt approached associate head coach Wally Burnham with a question Wednesday.

"What would you do at kicker?"

Burnham didn't hesitate. He said he would give Maikon Bonani, a freshman, his first start on national TV against No. 13 Kansas. Leavitt said he was thinking the same thing.

Two days later, at exactly 11:31 p.m., Bonani was being hoisted off the Raymond James Stadium turf by his teammates.

Bonani had just curled a 43-yard field goal inside the right goal post as time expired, giving No. 19 USF a pulsating 37-34 victory against KU.

"I aimed at the right upright because of the wind," Bonani said. "I felt a cross wind and tried to aim there and hope it went in. It did."

That's right: Bend It Like Bonani.

Bonani's first game-winning kick of his life was much better than his first collegiate kick. Early in the second quarter, his 41-yard attempt wasn't only wide left - it was really wide left. As the rookie returned to the sideline, he received boos from the crowd.

"That first kick, 'Holy smokes!' It was horrible," said Rod Shafer, Bonani's high school coach at Lake Wales, who didn't see a replay of the game until 3 a.m. Saturday. "I was going to call him up and ask him, 'What kind of crap was that?' I thought, 'Great, Leavitt's never going to take one of my kids again.'"

At Lake Wales, Shafer said Bonani was the school's valedictorian and could have started at quarterback or wide receiver. He also was Polk County's player of the year in soccer and the school's No. 1 tennis player. "He thrives on pressure," Shafer said.

Bonani shook off the shank.

"Somebody might say because it was the first time, but I don't think that's an excuse," Bonani said. "I just mis-hit the ball. I don't know if it's anxiety or not."

Bonani made his second attempt from 34 yards, but the Jayhawks (2-1) built a 20-3 lead three minutes before halftime.

Big East associate commissioner John Paquette, who was at the game, probably was wondering when basketball season started.

However, the Bulls (3-0) mounted a furious third-quarter comeback led by quarterback Matt Grothe (32 of 45, 338 yards). USF ran off 31 consecutive points for a 34-20 fourth-quarter lead. KU's Todd Reesing (34 of 51, 373 yards) pulled the Jayhawks even at 34, but made one mistake. USF's Nate Allen returned the interception 40 yards to Kansas' 27 with 30 seconds remaining.

With 0:02 on the RJS scoreboard, Bonani jogged onto the field. Former NFL and USF kicker Bill Gramatica stood with the crowd of 58,755 while millions watched at home on ESPN2. Gramatica has been working with USF's kickers in practice this fall. "This kid is solid," Gramatica said.

As Bonani lined up, Kansas called the obligatory timeout.

"I kind of walked away," Bonani said. "As a kicker, I guess it's stereotypical. I didn't want to be the only kicker who goes and actually talks to his teammates."

Center Eric Setser placed his right hand on the football. "I was looking around at the crowd and got down to snap it and started thinking, 'Man, I better make a good snap,'" Setser said. "Then in my head, I'm thinking, 'Dummy, shut up and snap it.'"

Setser's snap and Grant Gregory's hold were perfect.

USF's All-American defensive end George Selvie dug in at right end, holding back the Jayhawks' rushers. He saw the ball heading toward the south end zone. "It was tough watching," Selvie said.

Watching upstairs in the press box, USF radio play-by-play announcer Jim Louk made the call. "Snap. Hold. Kick. Distance. Goooooood! Bulls win!"

Leavitt's and Burnham's decision had paid off.

"I figured I couldn't do much worse than the first one, to be honest," Bonani said. "I just went out there and kicked it and gave it a ride."

And what a ride it was for Bonani, who was immediately crushed by a mob of teammates, and then carried on their shoulders.

"I couldn't get to him," Setser said. "He already had like 10 people on top of him. He was put in a tough situation: a freshman kicker coming into the biggest game of the year and he came out on top like a champ."

Shafer has been coaching 33 years. His 55-year-old eyes have witnessed a lot of football. Bonani is the best he has seen.

"When it's the toughest situation, that's when he's at his best," Shafer said. "His brother, Marcelo, is a sophomore at Lake Wales and already has four field goals in two games.

"South Florida should have the inside track on him. Just like they had the Gramaticas Bill and Santiago kicking, they'll have the Bonanis."

That is, if Leavitt will take any more of Shafer's kids.

ODDS AND ENDS: USF's 17-point comeback was the biggest in school history. The previous record was overcoming a 14-0 deficit in a 41-27 win against Division II New Haven in 1999. ... "This team USF has established itself as the team to win in the Big East," ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said Saturday. ... Grothe has thrown for 684 yards the past two games, the most in consecutive games for a USF QB. ... Selvie had his first sack of the season, setting the school career record with 21. He also knocked down three passes.

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

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