USF Crushes Bethune-Cookman with Four-Headed Rushing Attack

©Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

The USF Bulls (1-0) annihilated the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (0-1) 48-3 on Aug. 31 in Tampa, Fla. Both teams started off well defensively. Bethune-Cookman forced a USF three-and-out while USF got a bit of a scare.

USF originally had the Wildcats in a passing-only situation. But Bethune-Cookman starting quarterback Micah Bowens scrambled and slid for a first down. South Florida linebacker Jhalyn Shuler made contact with Bowens. Originally called targeting, it was waved off and the Bulls' leading tackler from 2023 stayed in the game.

All four of the Bulls' key running attack players were on their "A" game on Aug. 31. Quarterback Byrum Brown passed for 152 yards and ran for 74 more yards. Kelley Joiner Jr. ran for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nay'Quan Wright totaled 19 yards and a touchdown while Ta'Ron Keith ran for 39 yards and a touchdown. South Florida head coach Alex Golesh was constantly switching his running backs in and out of the game.

As a result, the Wildcats could not match up with the Bulls' fresh legs at running back or Brown for that matter. Bethune-Cookman also had to account for Brown's ability to throw the ball to big-play receiver Sean Atkins, who had 42 yards receiving.

USF Turning Point

Shuler made up for his mistake by picking off Bowens for his first career interception. However, he was injured on that play. Shuler walked off under his own power. He did not return. Shuler's interception led to Joiner scoring his first touchdown. It put the the Bulls up 14-0. USF never looked back. After a pair of TDs by Keith and Wright, the Bulls effectively put the game out of reach.

Bethune-Cookman struggled to get its running game going all game long. Their offensive line was blown away by the Bulls' front seven. USF's speed on offense kept the Wildcats' tired legs on the field. Bethune-Cookman could not get substitutions out there. The Bulls' four-headed monster on offense got some rest while Bethune-Cookman's defense battled against a speedy Bulls offense.

Each of those backs scored South Florida's first 4 TDs. Joiner's two scores were a career high. The Wildcats only scored on a field goal in a four-minute drive as the second quarter almost ended. The Bulls used the quarter's final 19 seconds to hit a 53-yard field goal.

USF's starters didn't finish the third quarter after the Bulls' defense continued to beat up on the Wildcats' offense. Cam'Ron Ransom, Bethune-Cookman's second quarterback, threw an interception. USF backup QB Bryce Archie turned that into his first TD pass.

What it Means

For USF, this was always going to be a tune-up game for them. They had the talent and better coaching under Golesh.

"In general, the last thing I talked about with team last night in a meeting, the last phase of being ready to play is having a next-play mentality," Golesh said.

USF's upcoming schedule has the Bulls facing Alabama, Southern Mississippi and Miami (Fla.). The Bulls will need to use this momentum on Sept. 7 as they visit the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama beat USF 17-3 in Tampa, Fla., a year ago. While they are not expected to win, they could put up a fight and ruin the Nick Saban festivities. Alabama will officially name the field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium as Saban Field on Sept. 7.

For Bethune-Cookman, the schedule doesn't get that much easier. It faces Mercer on Sept. 7. After that, it has a Mid-American Conference opponent in Western Michigan. Things settle down after that matchup when the Mustangs face Clark-Atlanta. But it could be a very rough start for the Wildcats if they aren't careful.