Not perfect, but Bulls cruise past UTEP

TAMPA USF's offense continued to roll along Saturday night, and while the defense had some troubles against visiting UTEP, the unit came up with some crucial turnovers late to put things away.

The No. 18 Bulls improved to 4-0 with a 52-24 victory over the Miners in front of an announced crowd of 39,628 at Raymond James Stadium, giving USF some big momentum entering the Big East Conference slate, which begins Thursday at Pittsburgh.

But USF coach Skip Holtz saw a lot of things that need to be corrected over the next few days before that nationally-televised meeting with the Panthers.

"I have a pit in my stomach after this game. We made so many mistakes," Holtz said "We'll get them corrected. I can't wait to get ahold of that film."

Junior quarterback B.J. Daniels led the way again for an offense that topped 500 total yards for a second consecutive game, though this time he's was just as dangerous with his legs as with his arm. Daniels threw for 202 yards and two scores, but he also rushed for season-best 130 yards and another touchdown. And it was his legs that got things started early for the Bulls.

On USF's second offensive play, Daniels burst through the middle of the UTEP defense and rumbled 71 yards for a score to give the Bulls a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game. The unit continued to click from there, scoring touchdowns on each of its first four possessions, all on the ground.

Running backs Darrell Scott (88 yards on 18 carries) and Demetris Murray (54 yards on eight carries) capped the next two scoring drives with short touchdown runs, and receiver Victor Marc followed with a highlight-reel 67-yard scamper that put the Bulls ahead 28-14 early in the second quarter. The Bulls amassed 263 rushing yards in the first half, nearly eclipsing their previous season-high of 268 set last week in a rout of Florida A&M, and they ended up setting a program record with 373 rushing yards in the game.

But the Miners did their best to stay in the game. USF led 31-17 at the break, but UTEP stayed within striking distance entering the fourth quarter, thanks to quarterback Carson Meger (26-for-43, 240 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions) connecting with a wide-open Kevin Perry for a 25-yard scoring pass on a fourth-down play late in the third, which made it a 38-24 game.

There was a scary moment early in the fourth quarter following UTEP's successful conversion on a fake punt. Bulls punt returner Terrence Mitchell came up to deliver the blow to end the play, but had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.

USF officials said later that Mitchell had feeling in all of his extremities, and USF coach Skip Holtz said after the game the news he received was positive, adding that it wasn't an injury to Mitchell's neck and that it was a likely concussion.

"When I saw him laying there, I just hit my knee and started to say a prayer for him that he would be better," senior offensive lineman Chaz Hine said of Mitchell. "We're hoping for the best."

After that point, the USF defense started providing big plays and produced two crucial fourth-quarter turnovers to help put the game away.

The first was an interception by cornerback Ricardo Dixon, and the offense made sure to capitalize. Daniels engineered an 8-play, 60-yard drive and capped it with an 18-yard scoring pass to Lindsey Lamar (four receptions, 85 yards, two touchdowns) that put the Bulls ahead 45-24 with 6:46 remaining.

Fourteen seconds later, the defense came up big again. Linebacker Sam Barrington stepped in front of a Meger pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to essentially seal the win and help atone for the unit allowing 339 yards of total offense. The Bulls had allowed 406 yards total in the previous two wins.

"This was not our defense," Barrington said. "We did not play to our standard. We have to get better and we will get better."