The USF Bulls (2-0) defeated the 13th-ranked Florida Gators (1-1) 18-16 on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville. The Bulls have now opened the season with back-to-back wins over top 25 teams.
Both teams traded field goals in the first half and the game went to halftime with the Gators leading 9-6. The Bulls got their only touchdown of the game when Byrum Brown hit Keshaun Singleton for a 66-yard strike to take a 13-9 lead late in the third quarter. The Bulls added two points on a Gators safety to make it 13-9 going into the fourth quarter.
The Gators took the lead with 12:29 to go in the fourth quarter when DJ Lagway hit Eugene Wilson III for a four-yard touchdown to give Florida a 16-15 lead. The Bulls were able to drive late in the game and give Nico Gramatica a chance to kick a walk-off field goal. He connected on the 20-yard shot and the Bulls walked off the field with a 18-16 win over Florida.
Byrum Brown went 23-for-36 with 263 yards passing and a touchdown – he also ran for another 66 yards. DJ Lagway went 23-for-33 with 222 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Gators – Jaden Baugh led the Gators on the ground with 93 yards.
For USF, they return to action against a third straight top-25 opponent when they travel to Miami on September 13th – kickoff between the Bulls and 5th-ranked Hurricanes is scheduled for 4:30 PM. The Gators will be back in action when they travel to Baton Rouge to play #3 LSU on September 13th – kickoff in that game is scheduled for 7:30 PM next Saturday night.
