After layoff, Bulls move toward top of conference

[bullwark]

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Bulls hadn't played in three weeks, hadn't won on the road in more than a year, so what's an extra hour of drama to wait out a huge conference victory?

Two defensive scores boosted USF to a 21-0 lead at Rutgers, and the Bulls came up with four more turnovers - and just enough Andre Hall - to hold off the Knights 45-31.

Today, Rutgers can celebrate the 136th anniversary of the first college football game, in which the Knights beat Princeton. USF, still in its first decade, has another major victory in its short history.

"We had to battle as hard as we've ever battled anybody today," said coach Jim Leavitt, whose Bulls (4-3, 2-1) are alone in second place in the Big East. "We had to use everything we had. It was a hard-fought game. I'm worn out, and I didn't even play."

One player who wasn't worn out was Hall, the senior running back who had a career-high 35 carries and still had enough to convert two third downs in the final 3:22 as the Bulls clung to a 37-31 lead. Despite rushing for 168 yards and three scores, he said the credit belonged elsewhere.

"The defense deserves it today. They gave us turnovers, put points on the board," Hall said. "If I had a game ball, I'd give it to them."

Having gotten past Rutgers (6-3, 3-2), the Bulls now face three lesser opponents - at Syracuse (1-7), home against Cincinnati (4-4) and at Connecticut (4-4) - and by winning those three, USF can set up a Dec. 3 showdown with West Virginia (7-1, 4-0) for the league crown and a BCS bowl bid.

USF's road woes had been linked to turnovers - eight in three losses this season. The Bulls didn't turn the ball over once Saturday and forced six turnovers, the second-most ever by a USF opponent. "That's the name of the game right there," Leavitt said. "A number of years ago, we were No. 1 in the nation in turnover margin. Last year, we were probably the worst. This year, we're back up there again. Turnovers are huge."

With a limited offense - 98 yards in the second half - USF's 31-14 halftime lead dwindled to six points when Ryan Hart's third touchdown pass cut the deficit to 37-31 with 13:02 to play. Freshman Ray Rice ran for 158 yards, and twice Rutgers had the ball - and a home crowd of 31,131 - knowing a touchdown would give them the lead. Both times, the Bulls forced turnovers, with Richard Clebert forcing a fumble on a sack (recovered by Jon Simmons) and Mike Jenkins coming up with an interception.

"They had all the momentum - it showed a lot of character," said Leavitt, who saw kicker Kyle Bronson have an extra point and field goal blocked in the second half.

The defense set the standard early, leading USF to a 21-0 first-quarter lead. The Bulls, who hadn't scored a defensive touchdown since Nov. 20, 2004, against Cincinnati, came up with two in a span of 86 seconds. The first was on a 32-yard interception return by safety Johnnie Jones. Three plays later, defensive end Jason Allen sacked Hart, forcing a fumble that end Terrence Royal returned 11 yards for a touchdown.

Because of a bye week, and the weather-related postponment of the West Virginia game, scheduled Oct. 22, the Bulls hadn't played since losing at Pittsburgh Oct. 15.

"All three weeks, we've talked about getting our swagger back," Jones said. "We're known as a defensive team, but we had to come out and show it."

USF's offense got it started on its first drive, running the ball nine consecutive times on an 80-yard drive that ended with Hall's 2-yard touchdown.

The Bulls offense relied on Hall, who carried 19 times in the first half - matching his total from each of the past two games - for 121 yards and two touchdowns. They also got a mistake-free game from quarterback Pat Julmiste, who completed his first nine passes, then hit one of his next nine but remained poised. And the line gave up no sacks against one of the nation's toughest pass rushes.

"I thought Pat Julmiste played a very good football game," said Leavitt, who pulled his starter during losses at Miami and Pittsburgh. "I can't figure the guy out."

The Bulls had lost their previous past four road games since beating Alabama-Birmingham on Nov. 3, 2004. "The main focus was to take care of the ball and let everything else take care of itself," said Julmiste, who rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:44 left. "And the defense - I don't care what the score was, what (Rutgers) did on the ground. They did a great job."

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/06/Sports/After_layoff__Bulls_m.shtml

[E.T.]

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