Marlon Mack ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns and a new school record as he led the Bulls to run all over the Bearcats. USF’s big scoring day started with a field goal on their first drive, while it took Cincinnati three possessions to put up their first
points, a seven yard rush by Tion Green.
The Bulls quickly answered with a rushing score of their own on their next try. D’Ernest Johnson carried it four yards to give USF the 10-6 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The touchdown was set up by a big 29 yard run by Mack and a 21 yard catch by Tyre McCants.
Cincinnati would take the lead again, 13-10, after a one yard quarterback sneak by Ross Trail. Before the halftime break, USF would score twice more, going into the lockers leading 24-20.
The second half was a different ball game altogether. USF would outscore the Bearcats 21-0 for the remainder of the game. Trail had thrown an interception in the second quarter, but the Bulls were not able to turn that into points. In the third, USF turned two interceptions into points. Ronnie Hoggins had the first pick of the half, giving his team the ball on the Cincinnati 35 which set up a 19 yard touchdown rush by Quinton Flowers to go up 31-20.
The next interception, the third thrown by Trail, was a pick six by Johnny Ward. Ward made the easy catch and scored from the Cincinnati six yard line. Trail wouldn’t throw another as he was benched in favor of Gunner Kiel.
The next score was a 49 yard run by Mack to extend the lead to 45-20. It was on this play that Mack would set the USF career rushing record, formerly held by Andre Hall. Hall moves to second place with his 2,731 yards, replaced by Mack’s 2,755 and counting.
Not to be outdone, Flowers matched Mack’s two touchdowns and passed for 196 yards, rushing for 74 more. No receivers scored, but nine of them combined for 228 receiving yards. Rodney Adams led the pack with 66 yards receiving.
For the Bearcats, Trail passed for 216 yards and a touchdown, but was badly damaged by throwing three interceptions. Green led the team in rushing, with 98 yards and a score. Nate Cole and Kahlil Lewis led the team in receptions, with 73 and 77 yards, respectively. Lewis also had a receiving touchdown.
Despite coming into the game leading the nation in interceptions, the Bearcats didn’t have any in this game. Eric Wilson added 12 tackles to top ten ranking. The only sack they managed was courtesy of Alex Pace.
Nigel Harris had a dozen tackles in the game for the Bulls. Daniel Awoleke and Kirk Livingstone each had a sack. Hoggins, Ward, and Khalid McGee accounted for the three interceptions. Jamon Thomas and Awoleke each forced a fumble.
The all-time series between the schools now moves to 8-6, favoring Cincinnati. The Bearcats fall to 3-2 (0-2) on the season, having lost to the preseason division favorites, Houston and USF. They’ll head to UConn in a week to face the Huskies in an 11:30 game.
The Bulls improve to 4-1 (1-0). This win marks just the second time that they have left Nippert Stadium with a victory. The last time the Bulls won in Cincinnati was in 2010, a rare close game in the series, 38-30. They will host the 2-3 ECU Pirates at noon on Saturday.
