Bulls Roll To 45-24 Homecoming Win Over ‘Cuse

Marlon Mack stiff arm (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

“I told our guys, we’re not going to leave anything on the play call sheet. I’m going to let it rip and I want ya’ll to let it rip.” Willie Taggert

Redshirt Freshman Tyre McCants splits the Orange (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Before an announced crowd of 27,235 mostly dressed in white fans, the Bulls racked up 535 yards of total offense in route to a 45-24 victory over the Syracuse Orange. The 535 yards were the most against an FBS opponent since 2012. The victory over the Orange marked USF’s first over a Power Five conference under Willie Taggert and the first since 2011.

Auggie Sanchez by a shoe string (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

“I told all of them, ‘We’re not going to leave anything on the play call sheet. We’re going to run it all and you guys take care of business. Play like you know you’re capable of…They did that. They went out, executed on a high level and they finished the game.”  Willie Taggert

Darius Tice scores (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

The victory ended a six year homecoming losing streak for the Bulls, who had not won a homecoming game since 2008.

A crowd of 27,235 mostly dressed in white (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Marlon Mack led the charge for the Bulls rushing for 184 yards on 21 carries. Quinton Flowers had a career high 259 passing yards to go along with 55 yards rushing and three TD’s.

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

The Bulls (2-3) scored their most points against an FBS opponent since 2011 while racking up 541 yards of total offense, their most against an FBS opponent since 2012. Marlon Mack posted a season-high 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Quinton Flowers threw for a career-high 259 yards and two touchdowns along with a rushing 55 yards and a score that helped seal the game in the fourth quarter.

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Quniton Flowers (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Freshman Ronnie Hoggins breaks up a pass (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Hoggins again (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Syracuse QB Eric Dungey gets a pass off (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Floridan Brisly Estime takes a pitch form Eric Dungey and Hoggins readies to make the tackle (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Jordan Fredricks finds the endzone for the Orange(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

South Florida High School guys Quniton Flowers and Juwan Dowels (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Flowers breaking tackles for positive yardage (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Tajee Fullwood crushes Steve Ishmael (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Mack Celebrates with AJ Legree (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Marlon Mack follows the big guys (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Mack’s 21-carry, 184-yard performance marked his seventh 100-yard rushing game. The sophomore moved into eighth place on USF’s all-time rushing list with 1,613 yards.

“We told Marlon, we’d love to get him at least 20 carries a game. We did that today and he took advantage of it.”  Willie Taggert

Jamie Byrd picks it off (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Steve Ishmael scores (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Flowers TD run (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Senior Zack Bullock gets air (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Pinellas County High School guys Devin Abraham and Auggie Sanchez (43) (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Bullock stays on the ground to apply pressure to Dungey (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Zack Bullock (Sebring, Fla.) each had 1.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in the opening half as the “Bull Sharks” racked up seven tackles for loss. The Bulls outgained Syracuse, 172-85, in the first two quarters while the Orange picked up just 40 passing yards.

Dungey goes for a helicopter ride (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Dungey gets more pressure in his own end zone (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Eric Lee was dominant against the Orange (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Eric Lee has his eyes sets to take down Dungey (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

Eric Lee with a sack (photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

(photo Travis Failey / RSEN)

USF jumps back into American Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 17 at UConn. Kickoff is set for noon in East Hartford and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU or ESPNews.

The Bulls’ next home game is Saturday, Oct. 24 against SMU at Raymond James Stadium. Reserve your seats at USFBullsTix.com.