USF Football

2nd Half Recap: 2024 USF Football Season

Josh Katzby
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Let's take a look at the back half of USF Football's 2024 season. Highs and lows, and everything in between.

We are now close to one month since the end of the South Florida Bulls’ 2024 season. In what went down in history as one of USF’s most chaotic seasons to date – QB Byrum Brown’s mystery injury, and the Bryce Archie / Izzy Carter Saga – we survived, Bulls Nation.

So now, let’s stop and smell the roses, take a deep breath, and digest the back end of the ‘24 campaign. Yes, I know this will be hard for some of you to do.

FAU

Under the lights on Nov. 1st, the Bulls travelled to Boca Raton to take on the FAU Owls at Howard Schnellenberger Field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium – or as we like to call it, Raymond James Stadium – South.

If my memory serves me correctly, there were more Bulls fans in the stadium than FAU fans. In what felt like a home game, South Florida trampled over the Owls by a score of 44-21.

The game started slow for the Bulls, constantly playing “catch up” to FAU. But in the 2nd Half, USF turned it up a notch and outscored the Owls 37-7 in the finals 30 minutes of the game.

QB Bryce Archie completed 19/32 of his passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. RB Nay’Quan Wright carried the ball 17 times and totaled 117 rushing yards to go along with one score as well. 

Running Backs Kelley Joiner and Ta’Ron Keith also rushed for a touchdown.

WR Sean Atkins hauled in six catches for 57 yards and a score too. Additionally, Joiner scored through the air, ending the night with two total touchdowns.

In what ended up being a fun night in Boca Raton (Don’t ask Tom Herman if he had fun), the Bulls returned to Tampa victorious.

Navy

The following week, the Bulls hosted Navy at Raymond James Stadium.

Not a great performance for USF, as they fell 28-7 to the Midshipmen.

Despite facing defeat, WR JeyQuan Smith snagged two catches for 85 yards and WR Michael Brown-Stephens hauled in a 13 yard touchdown late in the game.

USF’s defense recorded eight tackles for loss. Defensive Lineman Bernard Gooden lead the way with 2.5.

Charlotte

On Nov. 16, South Florida flew to North Carolina to take on the Charlotte 49ers.

All I had to say following the game was one word – “Wow”.

The USF Running Backs were not messing around this game. USF ended the day with 425 rushing yards and six touchdowns. RB Kelley Joiner ran the ball nine times for 140 yards and two touchdowns. If my math is correct, that’s 15.6 yards per carry (Uhhh, that’s insane!).

QBs Bryce Archie and Izzy Carter, RBs Ta’Ron Keith, Nay’Quan Wright, Alvon Isaac, Jaylen Johnson, Yasias Young, and WR Sean Atkins all carried the ball as well.

The Bulls’ Defense sacked the Charlotte QB five times and recorded seven tackles for loss.

CB Brent Austin also had a 14 yard Pick-Six.

After 60 minutes of play, the Bulls won by a score of 59-24.

Tulsa

After racking up 59 points the previous week, the Bulls looked to start off hot against the Golden Hurricanes. This time around, they ended with 63 points – winning 63-30.

South Florida pounded the rock 52 times for 308 yards and five touchdowns. Leading the way was RB Kelley Joiner yet again – he carried the ball 10 times for 131 yards with two scores.

Through the air, the Bulls completed 27 passes for 407 yards to go along with four touchdowns.

QB Bryce Archie completed 21/31 pass attempts for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, QB Izzy Carter (FINALLY!!!) completed 6/8 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns as well.

Wide Receivers Keshaun Singleton and Michael Brown-Stephens both scored, as did Tight Ends Jonathan Echols and Payten Singletary.

Finally, some winning momentum…

Rice

Nope, momentum was gone. The Bulls looked to defeat the Rice Owls to wrap up the regular season, but Rice had other plans in mind.

Though the Bulls only lost by seven points, most of the scoring for USF occurred incredibly late in the game.

QB Bryce Archie threw for 227 yards, but could only find the end zone once. 

On the ground, RB Nay’Quan Wright punched in one touchdown.

Late in the game, QB Izzy Carter came in to relieve Archie. He threw for 93 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Bulls some hope – but there was not enough time left in the game to fully complete the comeback.

Wide Receivers Sean Atkins and Keshaun Singleton both hauled in seven catches and a touchdown each. Atkins did it with 110 yards and Singleton did it with 107.

Final Score: 35-28, Rice.

Hawai’i Bowl – San Jose State

Following another 6-6 season, the Bulls clinched a Bowl Game for the 2nd season in a row.

In 2023, they defeated Syracuse 45-0 and looked to add another postseason W.

WR Sean Atkins grabbed 11 receptions for 104 yards – which surmounted the former walk-on as USF’s all-time leading receiver.

Running Backs Joiner, Wright, and Keith each scored on the ground too, but we cannot forget about Ta’Ron Keith’s 93 yard kick-off return touchdown!

Mac Harris sealed up the game when he deflected a pass from SJSU QB Walker Eget.

It took five rounds of overtime, but the Bulls were crowned champions of the game by a score of 41-39.

One heck of a way for the Bulls to wrap up the season.

What’s Next?

Well, it’s going to be quite some time until we see each other for another USF Football game, but make sure to check out the Bulls at their annual Spring Football Game in a few months.

See y’all soon.

Go Bulls!

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