Hoo Hoo, Running of the Bulls

Deatrick Nichols (3) returns the pigskin to the Temple five. This led to a Quinton Flowers TD and the Bulls never looked back (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Willie Taggart walked off the field high fiving fans and hugging everybody around him. The smile on his face said it all. His “young bulls” team had just upset the 21st ranked team in the country.

South Florida did not just beat Temple, they dominated the Owls, dismantling the number one ranked defense in the American Athletic Conference and the NCAAs 25th ranked defense in total yards for 556 total yards, including 326 yards rushing.

Auggie Sanchez (43) with the breakup for the incomplete. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Marlon Mack led the way for the Bulls with 23 carries-for-230 yards, two touchdowns, passing the 1,000 yard mark. Quinton Flowers also contributed to the run game with 90 yards on 18 carries to go along with 230 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Mack gets a celebratory lift from senior Brynjar Gudmundsson. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

“We pretty much took care of business in all phases of the game and we needed to be able to do that against a very talented Temple football team,” Taggart said.

The Owls would get on the board first as Jahad Thomas would score on a 1-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter. It did not take long for the Bulls to respond. In fact it would take 20 seconds, as Quinton Flowers hit Rodney Adams on a 68-yard touchdown reception tying the game at 7 and giving Rodney Adams his seventh TD catch of the year, tying him with Andre Davis and Elgin Hicks for the single season Bulls record.

Flowers lets it fly to Davis for the 1st quarter touchdown. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

(Travis Failey / RSEN)

The Bulls would take the lead two plays later after Deatrick Nichols returned an interception to the Temple 5 yard line. Flowers would run the ball in on the very next play making the score 14-7. Two plays 25 seconds and the Bulls had the lead.

Temple was able to cut the lead to 14-10 after an Austin Jones 33-yard field goal but the Bulls answered with a 57 yard run by Marlon Mack extending the lead 21-10.

The Bulls would score two more times and take a 31-10 lead into the locker room at halftime, outgaining the Owls in total yards 296-189. The Bulls scored four TDs on nine plays in the first half spanning 3 minutes 22 seconds.

Staff Sergeant Ley celebrates USF’s halftime lead by doing the push up ceremony. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

The Bulls domination of the Owls would continue in the second half as the Bulls outgained the Owls 260-191. Marlon Mack would put the final nail in the coffin on a 48-yard TD run with 2:38 in the game sealing the victory for the Bulls.

Marlon Mack (5) tiptoes the sideline for the 48 yard score. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Emilio Nadelman responded after two shaky weeks with field goals of 24, 37 and 47 yards. Rodney Adams led all Wide Receivers with 7 catches for 147 yards and one touchdown. P.J. Walker led Temple with 259 yards passing and one touchdown, while the AACs leading rusher, Jahad Thomas was held to 77 yards rushing.
The Bulls have won five of their last six games. It was also the first victory over a top 25 team at home since 2009. The Bulls will be back in action at home, Friday Nov. 20 at 8 pm against Cincinnati.

Flowers added 90 yards on the ground is 18 carries and a 5 yard TD run after the Nichols interception. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Hill harrasssed Temple’s PJ Walker all game. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

D’Ernest Johnson (32) with the stiff arm. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Offensive Lineman Thor Jozwiak. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Temple’s Robby Anderson (19) can’t come down with the touchdown pass from Walker over Auggie Sanchez (43). (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Quentin flowers (9). (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Rodney Adams (87) gets a you the man hug from Alex Mut. Adams had a monster night with 7 catches for 147 yards including a 68 yards TD in the first quarter with the extra point tied the score (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Coach Taggert celebrates with the fans that didn’t rush the field (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Rodney Adams (87) with post game Ray Jay Leap. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

Gun show with Marlon Pope. (Travis Failey / RSEN)

(Travis Failey / RSEN)