USF TURNS HALLOWEEN INTO A NIGHTMARE FOR UAB, RALLIES FOR 30-10 VICTORY

C.J. Hicks ties a program record with four sacks, while two defensive touchdowns help the Bulls erase an early 10-point deficit and secure bowl eligibility.

TAMPA, Fla. — Halloween at Raymond James Stadium delivered plenty of tricks for the University of South Florida, but the Bulls made sure the UAB Blazers were the ones left with the nightmare.

After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, USF responded with 30 unanswered points, relying on a relentless defensive performance and an unexpected spark from backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek to pull away for a 30-10 American Conference victory Saturday afternoon.

The Halloween atmosphere provided the backdrop, but the real fright came from the Bulls’ defense. Defensive end C.J. Hicks was virtually unstoppable, recording four sacks to tie the USF single-game program record. Two of those sacks forced fumbles that teammates returned for touchdowns, turning what had been a frustrating afternoon into a decisive Bulls victory.

The win improved USF to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play while securing bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season. UAB dropped to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the American.

For head coach Brian Hartline, the defensive performance was exactly the kind of impact the Bulls had emphasized during their preparation. “We talked about making sure we don’t have just sacks, we have some sack fumbles, and that’s been an emphasis as well,” Hartline said after the game.

The Bulls delivered on that objective in a major way.

A difficult opening

UAB wasted little time putting pressure on the home team. The Blazers took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards in seven plays, finishing the drive with Roderick Robinson II’s five-yard touchdown run. Jonah Delange added the extra point, giving UAB a 7-0 advantage.

The Blazers continued to make life difficult for the Bulls on their next possession. After forcing a USF punt, UAB moved into scoring position again, but the Bulls defense stiffened and forced a 30-yard field goal. Delange converted, extending the lead to 10-0.

USF’s offense struggled to establish a rhythm early, and the situation became more complicated when starting quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. left the game with an injury late in the first quarter. Sophomore Luke Kromenhoek entered and immediately brought a different dimension to the offense.

The Bulls’ first points came on a lengthy second-quarter possession. Kromenhoek used his mobility to help move the offense downfield, including a 42-yard run that carried USF deep into UAB territory. The drive eventually stalled, but Nico Gramatica connected on a 31-yard field goal to put the Bulls on the scoreboard.

The running game continued to provide the spark. Kromenhoek later broke loose for a 25-yard gain, helping set up Jason Collins Jr.’s six-yard touchdown run. Gramatica’s extra point tied the game at 10 with less than a minute remaining in the first half.

Then came the play that completely changed the afternoon.

With UAB attempting to respond, Hicks broke through the offensive line and brought down quarterback Ryder Burton, forcing a fumble. Asani Redwood recovered the loose ball and raced six yards into the end zone for a defensive touchdown.

In the span of just a few seconds, USF had transformed a 10-point deficit into a 17-10 halftime advantage.

Hicks and the defense take over

The Bulls carried that momentum into the second half, and the defense continued to make life miserable for Burton and the UAB offense. USF opened the third quarter with a 45-yard drive that ended with another Gramatica field goal, this time from 30 yards. The kick extended the lead to 20-10.

While the offense was content to take what the defense gave it, the defensive front continued to dominate the line of scrimmage. Hicks recorded his third sack of the afternoon, and UAB found itself unable to generate much of anything on the ground.

The Blazers finished with just 17 rushing yards and 177 total yards. USF recorded six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, repeatedly disrupting UAB’s attempts to move the chains.

Hicks saved another major moment for the fourth quarter.

Early in the final period, he reached Burton again, forcing another fumble. This time, linebacker Grayson Howard recovered the ball and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown. Gramatica’s extra point pushed the USF advantage to 27-10.

It was the second defensive touchdown of the afternoon created by Hicks, and it effectively put the game out of reach. Gramatica added a 33-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining to complete the scoring and give USF its final 30-10 margin.

Kromenhoek provides the spark

While Hicks understandably received much of the attention, Kromenhoek’s contribution was another major storyline. The sophomore quarterback entered after Van Buren’s departure and provided a running threat that UAB struggled to contain. Kromenhoek finished with 92 rushing yards on 15 carries, including runs of 42 and 25 yards.

His performance gave the Bulls a way to move the football despite a passing game that never found much consistency. USF completed eight of 12 passes for only 46 yards, but rushed for 191 yards as a team. Hartline was pleased with the way Kromenhoek responded to the opportunity.

“His legs were huge today, and, you know, we’ll build on that, but we’re also built on everything else he can do,” Hartline said. The coach also expressed his satisfaction with the sophomore’s performance, saying, “I’m just really happy for Luke.”

Hartline acknowledged that the Bulls would need to find ways to become more effective through the air, particularly against a UAB defense that applied consistent pressure. “We’re gonna try to find more ways to throw the ball,” Hartline said. “We got to be able to protect them (QBs) on the edge.”

A defensive statement on Halloween

The final numbers told the story of a game that changed dramatically after the opening quarter. USF held UAB to 177 total yards, including only 17 rushing yards. The Blazers managed just 10 first downs and were shut out over the final three quarters.

Hicks finished with four sacks, two forced fumbles and a performance that tied the program’s single-game sack record. Howard recorded eight tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Redwood supplied the other defensive score.

Offensively, Kromenhoek led the Bulls with 92 rushing yards, while D.J. Crowther added 60 yards on 16 carries. Collins scored USF’s lone offensive touchdown, and Gramatica finished a perfect three-for-three on field-goal attempts.

For UAB, Burton completed 13 of 27 passes for 149 yards, while Robinson accounted for the team’s only touchdown. The Blazers were unable to find an answer for the Bulls’ pass rush after their productive opening quarter.

Hartline also emphasized that the defense still had room to improve despite the impressive performance. Discussing the team’s turnover opportunities, he said, “We want to do a better job of creating turnovers,” adding that the Bulls could have produced even more takeaways by securing opportunities rather than attempting difficult plays.

The victory was important beyond the final score. At 6-2, USF officially reached bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season, continuing a stretch of postseason consistency while keeping its American Conference ambitions alive.

On a Halloween afternoon filled with costumes, orange and black, and the usual holiday festivities around Tampa, the Bulls delivered their own version of a horror show.

UAB arrived with an early lead and plenty of confidence. But once Hicks and the USF defense found their rhythm, the Blazers had nowhere to hide.

The Bulls left Raymond James Stadium with a 30-10 victory, a record-tying defensive performance and another postseason milestone secured.

Net up for the Bulls: A nationally broadcasted roadie against the Pirates of East Carolina on Thursday night at 8 pm.

Game statistics

Category	UAB	USF
Final score	10	30
Total yards	177	237
Passing yards	160	46
Rushing yards	17	191
First downs	10	13
Sacks allowed	6	3
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	27:42	32:18

Standout performances

• C.J. Hicks, USF: Four sacks, two forced fumbles; tied the program’s single-game record.
• Grayson Howard, USF: Eight tackles, two sacks and a 13-yard fumble-return touchdown.
• Asani Redwood, USF: Six-yard fumble-return touchdown.
• Luke Kromenhoek, USF: 92 rushing yards on 15 carries; 39 passing yards.
• D.J. Crowther, USF: 60 rushing yards on 16 carries.
• Nico Gramatica, USF: Three field goals, including kicks from 31, 30 and 33 yards.
• Ryder Burton, UAB: 149 passing yards; sacked six times.
• Roderick Robinson II, UAB: Scored the Blazers’ lone touchdown.