After a touchdown on their opening drive, the Bulls failed to create any offense in another uninspired performance on senior day. With only 170 yards of offense, 44 yards through the air and five first downs, the offense was completely inept all game. Leading rushers Jordan Cronkrite and Trevon Sands were both inactive this game, leaving Kelley Joiner to be the work horse. Joiner did his part and posted his first 100-yard rushing game of his career.
“You get out there,” Head Coach Charlie Strong said, “we take the ball on the opening drive and we go score to go up 7-0, then get two turnovers there on defense and have a short field only to get three points out of it and miss another field goal. We could just never get any rhythm going on offense.”
“Well Kelley (Joiner) played well,” Strong said. “I think he rushed for over 100 yards and to see that big run that he busted. The thing about him he’s so small and quick, but he’s fast enough where he can run away from people. I was just very pleased to see his performance.
Kelley Joiner is EATINNN #BeatMemphis pic.twitter.com/C2Q5YH07a9
— 𝗦𝗼𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘀 (@SoFloBulls) November 23, 2019
The Bulls kept up their turnover streak alive with a pair of interceptions from K.J. Sails and Daquan Evans. So far this season, the Bulls have forced at least one turnover in each of their eleven games. The Bulls defense struggled mightily to stop the Tigers, due in part to a lopsided time of possession that forced the defense to be on the field for nearly forty minutes.
KJ SAILS!!!@KJ2LiVE pic.twitter.com/QB6hIcbtCi
— 𝗦𝗼𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘀 (@SoFloBulls) November 23, 2019
“It just beats down your defense,” Coach Strong said. “You know there’s plays that we didn’t tackle well but then you get worn down because you’re on the field a lot. You know we have one game left and we have to get back and get everyone healthy to get ready to go Orlando to play Central Florida.”
With no chance to make a bowl game this season, the upcoming game against UCF will be the last game for the likes of Mitchell Wilcox and Kirk Livingstone in the green and gold. If the Bulls can pull off an upset victory in Orlando on Friday, it would do a lot for the spirits of the Bulls’ fan base heading into an offseason that will likely see many changes to the program.