South Florida secured its fourth consecutive bowl-eligible season with a decisive 30-10 victory over UAB on Saturday, overturning an early deficit through explosive defensive plays. Despite trailing 10-0 in the first quarter, the Bulls scored the final 30 points of the contest, driven by two critical fumble returns for touchdowns. Asani Redwood and Grayson Howard capitalized on turnovers forced by linebacker CJ Hicks, who recorded four sacks, two of which directly led to the game-changing scores.
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The momentum shift began in the second quarter when Jason Collins Jr. tied the game with a six-yard run, followed immediately by Redwood’s six-yard fumble return to give USF a 17-10 halftime lead. The Bulls extended their advantage in the second half as Howard recovered a fumble and sprinted 13 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Nico Gramatica provided crucial insurance, converting three field goals, including short-range attempts from 30 and 33 yards, to solidify the lead in the closing minutes.
Offensively, quarterback Luke Kromenhoek anchored the ground game with 92 rushing yards, while the passing attack remained conservative. Kromenhoek and Michael Van Buren Jr. combined for only 12 pass attempts, completing eight for 46 yards. The defensive dominance was evident in the total yardage disparity, as South Florida accumulated 237 yards while holding UAB to just 177. The win improves USF’s record to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the American Conference, cementing their status as a consistent contender in the conference.
Source: Yahoo Sports
