SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 25, 2010
Heavily
favored South Florida held off a valiant effort by winless Western
Kentucky to defeat the visiting Hilltoppers 24-12 Saturday night at
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Itกฏs
the 24th consecutive loss for Western Kentucky, the longest losing
streak in the nation, but the Hilltoppers gave South Florida, a
four-touchdown favorite, a battle before dropping to 0-4 this season.
South Florida improves to 2-1.
Western
Kentucky had more total offense than USF (313-276) but did not score
against the Bullsกฏ defense until the fourth quarter.
South
Florida scored the only points of a sloppily played first half on a
13-yard touchdown run by Moise Plancher with 5:14 remaining in the
half. The teams combined to miss five field-goal attempts, three by
Western Kentucky, in the first two quarters.
Richard
Kellyกฏs 2-yard touchdown run culminated an 11-play, 82-yard scoring
drive to give USF a 14-0 lead midway through the third quarter.
A
67-yard punt return by Terrence Mitchell set up USFกฏs third touchdown,
a 1-yard run by B. J. Daniels late in the third quarter that extended
the Bullsกฏ lead to 21-0.
Western
Kentucky put its first points on the scoreboard with 11:34 remaining
when Quinterrance Cooper caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bobby
Rainey on a halfback-option pass, but the Hilltoppers missed the PAT
kick, punctuating Western Kentuckyกฏs kicking woes in the game.
Maikon
Bonani kicked a 33-yard field goal for the Bulls with 5:25 remaining in
the game and Western Kentucky answered with a 25-yard touchdown pass
from Kawaun Jakes to Jack Doyle for the final score of the game.