Prowling Panthers Pounce On Struggling Bulls 41-14

Dion Lewis kept up the Pittsburgh running tradition, as he ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries against the Bulls. Last year LaShon McCoy ran wild in Tampa all over the Bulls' defense. This year it was the same story, only the home version for the Panthers. Pittsburgh jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter before the Bulls could muster a drive leading to a three yard touchdown run by Mike Ford making it 14-7.

Pittsburgh countered with 27 unanswered points throughout the second and third quarters before the Bulls countered with a Dontavia Bogan 20 yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. The extra point by Eric Schwartz made it 41-14 Pittsburgh over USF and subsequently that was the last score of the game. The Bulls only managed 210 total yards on 11 first downs. In typical Bulls fashion they had nine penalties for 72 yards and three turnovers.

BJ Daniels was only 4-8 with 56 yards including two interceptions. He added 15 rushes for 47 yards and was the Bulls leading rusher. His counterpart Bill Stull was 18 for 25 for 245 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception for the Panthers. The quarterback battle was a short one as BJ Daniels spent more time running from the pass rush than he did looking down field for open receivers.

Dion Lewis was as advertised and put on a clinic shredding the Bulls defense. Ray Graham added 88 yards on 11 carries for the Panthers two pronged ground attack.  USF’s defense had no answer for Jonathan Baldwin who had six receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown. Stull threw at Jerome Murphy, the USF corner for the majority of the game and it paid dividends for the Panthers. Dorin Dickerson and Mike Cruz also added touchdown receptions during the aerial assault for the Panthers in this statement win on the season.

USF (5-2) desperately needs a win to remain in the hunt for bowl eligibility. The Bulls will need seven wins this season, and with West Virginia (6-1) coming next week it won't get any easier. Pittsburgh (7-1) is well on its way to challenging Cincinnati for the Big East crown. Next week they face a struggling Syracuse (4-2) team before their showdown with Notre Dame (4-2).