USF 45, Cincinnati 20: Haiku and Postgame Thoughts

Tonight’s haiku courtesy of Collin:

The defense scared you,
But then the second half came...
And you know they’ll score.

Initial postgame thoughts:

• USF outgained Cincinnati 454-393. No turnovers again for the Bulls, while Cincinnati had four - all in the third quarter.
• Almost perfect balance for the Bulls with 226 yards rushing and 228 passing.
• Marlon Mack broke Andre Hall’s all-time USF rushing record with 118 yards on 20 carries. The record-breaking carry, fittingly, was a weaving 49-yard touchdown run that finished off the scoring in the fourth quarter. It was his second touchdown of the game.
• After throwing three interceptions, Cincinnati’s Ross Trail was replaced by Gunner Kiel. He was completely ineffective, completing just 3 of 11 passes.
• Quinton Flowers was 16 for 26 for 196 yards and his accuracy was generally good. He did make a couple questionable decisions late in the game that drew the ire of Willie Taggart. Flowers also ran for 74 yards and two scores.
• This is the first time USF has opened conference play with a road win since 2009.
• Billy Atterbury left the game on a cart after being rolled into at the very end of a play in the second quarter. Hoping for the best, but it looked pretty bad.
• Other injury concerns: Bruce Hector, who limped off early but soon returned, and Deatrick Nichols, who Taggart personally pulled off the field after a collision at the sideline near halftime.

More later. Celebrate, or maybe wring your hands about the first-half defense, in the comments.