The USF Bulls (1-0) defeated The Citadel (0-1) 27-6 on Saturday night in Jeff Scott's head coaching debut.
The Citadel got the scoring started when kicker Colby Kintper kicked a 45-yard FG with 4:07 to go in the first quarter. The Bulls came back with an eight play, sixty-two yard drive that ended when Jordan McCloud hit DeVontres Dukes for a 10-yard touchdown to take a 7-3 lead.
The Citadel answered with a ten play, 54-yard drive to start the second quarter that ended with a 41-yard field goal from Colby Kintner to pull within 7-6 of the Bulls. The game would turn later in the second quarter, when a special teams miscue by The Citadel was capitalized on when Omarion Dollison recovered a fumble on a punt to give the Bulls a 13-6 lead 6:52 before halftime.
The Bulls had another five play, sixty-yard drive that ended when Noah Johnson ran in a nine yard touchdown to make it 20-6 USF at halftime. The third quarter and much of the fourth quarter was a back and forth affair with neither team able to score until Kelley Joiner ran in a 3-yard touchdown with 6:55 to go in the fourth quarter that gave the Bulls a 27-6 advantage.
Jordan McCloud got most of the repetitions at quarterback, going 11-for-16 for 68 yards and a touchdown through the air. Noah Johnson also got some reps at quarterback going 3-for-4 with 24 yards passing, and Katravis Marsh went 4-for-5 with 10 yards passing. The USF was led on the ground with 87 yards and a touchdown from Kelley Joiner, while Johnny Ford added 71 yards on the ground as the Bulls managed 302 yards on the ground.
The Bulls return to action for a tough matchup next Saturday against nationally ranked Notre Dame. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 PM from South Bend, Indiana, with pregame coverage set to be at 1:30 PM on 1250 WHNZ Impact Radio.