Bulls Get Washed Away by The Green Wave

(Photo-Travis Failey)

Article by USF Athletics

TAMPA, NOV. 3, 2018 – USF dropped consecutive conference games for the first time since the end of the 2014 season with a 41-15 setback against Tulane on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.

(Photo-Travis Failey)

Tulane (4-5, 3-2 in AAC) took control of the game with 34 straight points after USF (7-2, 3-2 in AAC) started with a 3-0 lead. The Bulls’ nation-leading streak of consecutive 20-plus point games was snapped at 38.

Quarterback Blake Barnett moved closer to USF’s first 3,000-yard passing season, completing 29 of 49 attempts for 332 yards. The junior from Corona, Calif., also led the USF rushing attack with 59 yards and produced his eighth touchdown on the ground this season in the fourth quarter after a career long 39-yard run in the first period of play.

Blake Barnett (Photo-Travis Failey)

Tyre McCants (Niceville, Fla.) moved up to fourth on USF’s career receptions list (119) after registering a game-high nine catches for 85 yards. Stanley Clerveaux (North Miami) matched his career high with five receptions for 50 yards, a new career best.

Tyre McCants (Photo-Travis Failey)

Freshman Johnny Ford also is tied for the team lead with eight rushing touchdowns after a 5-yard score in the third quarter. The Miami native has rushed for at least one touchdown in each of the past three games with six scores during that stretch.

(Photo-Travis Failey)

Tulane headed into halftime with a 27-3 lead after scoring 27 unanswered points, including 20 in the second quarter.

USF started the scoring in the middle of the opening quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Coby Weiss (Gainesville, Fla.). The 65-yard drive was sparked by Barnett’s career long 39-yard run on USF’s first offensive play of the game.

(Photo-Travis Failey)

Following USF’s third turnover of the game, Darius Bradwell’s 73-yard touchdown run helped extend the Green Wave lead to 34-3 with 3:48 remaining in the third quarter. USF answered back about three minutes later with Ford’s eighth rushing touchdown run of the season from 5 yards out.

Johnny Ford (Photo-Travis Failey)

USF’s rally continued with a 1-yard touchdown run by Barnett that cut the deficit to 34-15 with 9:26 remaining. The touchdown was set up by a 31-yard reception by junior Darnell Salomon (Miami), who finished with three catches for 54 yards.

(Photo-Travis Failey)

Redshirt freshman linebacker Andrew Mims (St. Johns, Fla.) recovered a fumble in USF territory on Tulane’s next drive, but the Bulls couldn’t complete their fourth double-digit fourth quarter comeback of the season.

Senior Josh Black (Tampa) led the defensive effort with a career-high 10 tackles, including his team-leading fifth sack of the season. Freshman Dwayne Boyles Jr. (Miami) also set a career high with eight tackles.

Roland Skies for the grab (Photo-Travis Failey)

Key Stats

364 – Tulane rushed for 364 yards on 52 attempts (7.1 ypc).

110 – USF’s rushing yardage total after posting at least 200 yards on the ground in 31 of the previous 37 games.

34 – Tulane took control of the game with 34 unanswered points after USF took a 3-0 lead.

3 – USF turned the ball over three times, including two lost fumbles.

More photos from the game

(Photo-Travis Failey)

(Photo-Travis Failey)

(Photo-Travis Failey)

(Photo-Travis Failey)

(Photo-Travis Failey)

Barnett Goes Backwards (Photo-Travis Failey)

(Photo-Travis Failey)