USF 38  SMU 14

Quinton Flowers and the Bulls ran all over the SMU Mustangs (Photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

On a day when they were without their leading rusher, South Florida had to look no further than Quinton Flowers.

Flowers entered the game having never rushed for more than 98 yards in a game. By the end of the first half, he had rushed for 142 yards and was on his way to a record setting rushing performance by a USF QB.

 The Bulls defense showed they were going to be a factor as well. The third play of the game, Jamie Byrd sacked SMU quarterback Matt Davis forcing a fumble that would be recovered by James Hamilton. Emilio Nadelman’s 40 yard field goal would give the Bulls a 3-0 to start the game.

The Bulls offense would remain stifled for the rest of the first quarter as SMU ended the first quarter on a 12 play 78 yard drive resulting in a Xavier Johnson 1 yard run giving SMU a 7-3 lead. This would be the only lead SMU would have in the game.

With his receivers dropping passes and leading rusher Marlon Mack sidelined by a hamstring injury, Quinton Flowers decided to put the ball and the game in his hands.

On the very first play of the second quarter, Flowers kept the ball and raced 67 yards into Mustang territory. Three plays later, Darius Tice would run into the end zone for a 1 yard TD recapturing the lead for the Bulls 10-7, capping off a 4 play, 75 yard drive.

Two series later, Flowers would run it in for 8 yards giving the Bulls a 17-7 lead. It would be the first of three touchdowns that Flowers would rush for today. Flowers would finish the first half with 13 carries for 142 yards.

Jamie Byrd sacked SMU quarterback Matt Davis forcing a fumble (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Flowers domination of the Mustangs would continue in the second half. The first drive of the second

Flowers (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

half, would see Flowers break former Bulls QB Matt Grothes’ single game rushing record for a QB of 146 yards. It would also see the Bulls extend their lead to 24-7 on a Johnson 1 yard TD run.

The Bulls would score two more times in the fourth quarter on touchdown runs of five and 10 yards by Flowers. Flowers would finish the night with 23 carries for 201 yards and 3 TD’s, helping the Bulls to a 38-14 victory over the Mustangs and improving to 4-3. Flowers had 201 of the Bulls 255 rushing yards. He would also throw for 97 yards.

Defensively, the Bulls forced 4 turnovers and 8 tackles for loss. Jamie Byrd led the Bulls with 10 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 3 TFL’s and 2 sacks. It was the second straight double digit tackle game for Byrd, who had 12 tackles last week against the UCONN Huskies.

The Bulls have won 3 games in a row for the first time since 2011 and are above .500 for the first time in 5 seasons.

The Bulls travel to Annapolis, MD next week to take on the Navy Midshipmen.