Remember the 1st 7 weeks of the 2018 USF football season? The Bulls showed flashes of greatness, but seemed to find themselves down in the 4th quarter. The Bulls started 7-0 because they found a way to comeback and win those football games. Saturday the 2019 team showed a bit of that moxy. The Bulls trailed BYU by 9 entering the 4th quarter, but they came up big. Jordan McCloud got his team within 2 and then his running back finished the day. Jordan Cronkrite capped a 158-yard day with a 3-yard, game winning touchdown run. The 27-23 victory over BYU improved the Bulls to 3-3 as they try to rebound from a tough 1-3 start.
Hall led the Cougars on a fairly impressive 1st drive that had his team in Bulls territory rather quickly. Charlie Strong’s defense stood up after that happened. Hall was sacked on a big 3rd down play by Antonio Grier. BYU was still able to connect on a 51-yard field goal to give them an early lead. The only other play of consequence in the opening frame was when Jordan McCloud was hit and his right shoulder was shaken up.
The 2nd quarter was much more eventful for both football teams. The 1st touchdown of the game came on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Hall to Dax Milne. The Bulls were able to answer on their next possession when McCloud led an 8-play drive that was capped off with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Wilcox. BYU controlled most of the remainder of the quarter, but couldn’t get all the way to the endzone. They had to settle for 2 more Oldroyd field goals to carry a 16 to 7 takedown.
The Bulls were able to shrink that lead on the opening possession of the 2nd half. It was a balanced drive, but the star was Jordan Cronkrite. The running back capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run that made the score 16-14. The young quarterback from BYU had an answer though. Jaren Hall capped a 70-yard drive by taking off and scampering on his own for a 25-yard touchdown runs.
The Bulls needed a big 4th quarter to get the win and they got just that. McCloud made it a 2-point game in the 1st minute of the quarter with a touchdown run. His running back ended up being the hero though. Jordan Cronkrite’s 2nd touchdown run of the game was the exclamation point to end a 9-play, 78 yard drive. That gave USF a 27-23 lead and that was where the final score stayed as the defense held on to get the Bulls their 3rd victory of the season.
Next week the Bulls will head back out on the road in AAC action. They will head to Maryland to face the Navy Midshipmen. Kickoff for that one is set for 3:30 pm. Pregame coverage will begin at 2:30 and you will hear the call right here on 95.3 WDAE and AM 620.