TAMPA, OCT. 12, 2019 – Senior running back Jordan Cronkrite dashed for 158 yards on 26 carries (6.1) and two touchdowns, including what would become the score that sealed the win with 7:37 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Bulls defense not only showed out, racking up 13 tackles for loss, six sacks and two key fourth down stops, but sealed the 27-23 homecoming victory over the Cougars at Raymond James Stadium.
Sophomore linebacker Antonio Grier set a career high with two sacks, his second coming in clutch fashion as BYU was in a third-and-10 situation from the USF 12 on the final drive. Sophomore linebacker Dwayne Boyles totaled 2.5 of USF’s season high-tying13 tackles for loss and one of the Bulls’ season-high six sacks, the most since 2012. USF has tallied at least 10 tackles for loss in four straight games and has 11 sacks in the past two outings.
“That’s a great win for us… You look at a team that beat USC and came back and beat Tennessee. Just the way our guys battled, we got down 13-0 and Jordan (McCloud) makes a big throw down there to (Mitchell) Wilcox, who makes an unbelievable catch. Then our guys just started feeling it and confidence started coming back to them. What we were able to do on defense was just hold them to field goals in the first half and not let the game get away from us… The battle there at the end, you look at (Jordan) Cronkrite rushing for over 150 yards and just the whole offensive line… This team just continues to grow and develop. As they continue to grow and develop, this could be something special. I know we’re young but sometimes when you’re young, you don’t know any better and you just play.”
~ Charlie Strong
Junior Trent Schneider shattered his own USF single-game best as a Bull, averaging of 52.8 yards per punt, which included a BOOMING 61-yarder that pinned BYU at its own 26 to start the Cougar’s final drive in the fourth.
After BYU pushed the deficit to 13-0 Jordan McCloud orchestrated an 86-yard scoring drive, capped by an ELITE 39 yard touchdown catch by stud tight end Mitchell Wilcox. The senior tight end leads the Bulls in touchdown receptions this season (4) and is tied for the ninth spot in program history (10). Wilcox finished the contest with two catches for 52 yards, but was a beast blocking as usual.
Vincent Davis Jr. recovered a fumble on a botched Cougars punt attempt at the BYU 23, which led to McCloud’s 2-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 23-21 with 14:57 on the game clock. Next, BYU missed a field goal and the Bulls’ offense capitalized via Jordan Cronkrite’s 3-yard touchdown. The touchdown locked up Cronkrite’s second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance after gashing UConn for 148 the previous week.
BYU marched all the way down to the USF 8 on the next drive before the Bulls came up with a huge stop on fourth-and-7 from the 10. USF took over with 1:36 to play and, following three running plays, Schneider’s 61-yard punt pushed the Cougars back to their own 26 with 1:09 remaining. BYU got down to the Bulls’ 12 on the final drive of the game, but USF held firm behind Antonio Grier’s clutch third-and-10 sack before Devin Studstill’s pass breakup iced the game while Bulls Nation prayed.
We sincerely hope you enjoy flipping through the handpicked photos by David Gold. This week the Bulls are back home to host AAC foe Temple on Thursday, November 7th at 8 p.m. in front of a national audience on ESPN.. let’s get this W boys!! #BeatTemple
All photos are courtesy of our photographers David Gold, Stephanie Manuri and Matthew Manuri so please respectfully enjoy our hard work, but kindly tag us on Instagram (@soflobulls), Facebook (@SoFloBulls), and Twitter (@SoFloBulls).
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