Big East Battle Goes Down To The Wire

#36 South Florida – 21
#29 Rutgers – 17

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The highly anticipated matchup between #29 Rutgers and #36 South Florida lived up to the hype. The Bulls jumped out to an early 14-0 lead with help from a long touchdown reception by WR Jessie Hester, son of the star Florida State receiver of the same name. It didn't last, though, as Rutgers capped a long drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass from QB Jabu Lovelace to WR Mark Harrison in the final minute of the first half. On USF's next possession, DT Charlie Noonan sacked and stripped QB Matt Grothe and CB Brandon Bing picked up the loose ball. Lovelace promptly punched it in for a nine yard touchdown run to tie the score with five seconds remaining in the half.

Rutgers then added a field goal in the third quarter to make it 17-14. The Scarlet Knights nursed their three point lead until late in the 4th quarter, when they elected to go for it on 4th and 2 from well within field goal range. They were stopped, and USF quickly marched down the field to get within field goal range themselves. Then, with thirty seconds remaining, Matt Grothe rolled out and scrambled into the end zone from six yards out to give the Bulls the lead for good.

South Florida won despite committing four turnovers to Rutgers' one, and maintaining possession for less than a third of the game. HB Kordell Young was held to 28 yards on 14 carries, thanks in large part to senior OLB Chris Robinson, who collected four tackles, three for losses. CB Zaire Kitchen had two interceptions, both in the second quarter, for the Scarlet Knights. USF will travel to Happy Death Valley to face the #4 Nittany Lions in the second round.

Stats:
South Florida
QB Matt Grothe – 6/12, 194 yards, 2 TD, 8 rushes, 20 yards, TD
WR Jessie Hester – 2 rec, 106 yd, TD
CB Ricardo Dixon – INT
DE Craig Marshall – FF
OLB Chris Robinson – 3 TFL