TAMPA, Fla. — Weather pushed kickoff back to 7:27 p.m., but South Florida and Delaware State wasted little time getting the action started as a back-and-forth first half ensued at Raymond James Stadium.
USF took the opening possession after the Hornets won the toss and elected to defer. Cameron Seldon returned the kickoff 28 yards to the USF 28, and the Bulls quickly moved into scoring territory.
D.J. Crowther capped the opening drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, giving USF an early 7-0 lead with 13:40 remaining in the first quarter.
Delaware State found some rhythm on its opening possession, driving to the USF 29. Facing fourth-and-2, Patrick Fisher-Butler attempted a 47-yard field goal, but the kick was no good, turning the ball back over to the Bulls.
USF was unable to capitalize and was eventually forced to punt on a drive that included two false-start penalties.
That came back to bite the Bulls quickly.
On Delaware State’s next possession, Ui Ale found Nathan Stewart on a pass up the middle. Stewart took it 90 yards to the end zone, tying the game at 7-7 with 4:47 remaining in the first quarter.
USF responded just as quickly.
Crowther broke free for a 38-yard touchdown run to reclaim the lead, 14-7, with 2:56 left in the quarter.
Delaware State closed the period with a promising drive, overcoming an early nine-yard loss and converting a third-and-9 to keep the possession alive as the quarter ended.
USF Turns a Turnover Into Seven
Delaware State opened the second quarter by mixing up its backfield, with Shaun Boykins Jr. taking a five-yard loss before Ale continued the drive. On third down, Ale was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Marshon Oxley and fumbled. Ryan Jenkins recovered for USF at the Delaware State 41.
The Bulls took advantage of the short field.
Michael Van Buren Jr. connected with Joshua Porter for 16 yards to move the ball to the DSU 28 before Crowther added four yards on the ground. After a Delaware State timeout, Van Buren found Crowther for 11 yards and another first down at the DSU 13.
Crowther added three more yards before Luke Kromenhoek finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.
The extra point was good, giving USF a 21-7 lead with 8:17 remaining in the second quarter.
Despite the rough start, Delaware State refused to go away.
The Hornets moved from their own 11 into USF territory before Ale broke loose for a 50-yard run to the USF 3. The Bulls’ defense held from there, forcing Delaware State to settle for Fisher-Butler’s 23-yard field goal.
The kick cut the deficit to 21-10 with four minutes remaining in the half.
Delaware State Makes It a Game
USF appeared ready to build on its lead but gave Delaware State another opportunity when Wyatt Sullivan fumbled near midfield. Kemari Nix recovered and returned the ball three yards to the USF 48.
The Hornets capitalized.
Ale guided Delaware State down the field and connected with Jaylin Terzado for a 20-yard touchdown with 1:18 remaining, bringing the Hornets within four points at 21-17.
USF still had time to respond, taking possession at its own 28 with 1:12 left.
Van Buren immediately moved the Bulls with a 17-yard completion to Bryson Rodgers. He then connected with Porter for 14 yards before finding Crowther for 29 more, moving USF to the Delaware State 12.
An incomplete pass intended for Mudia Reuben was reviewed, but the ruling on the field stood. Van Buren followed with a 10-yard completion to Rodgers, putting the Bulls at the DSU 2.
Kromenhoek picked up a yard before Crowther was stopped at the 1. USF used its final timeout with four seconds remaining.
Kromenhoek then finished the half with his second rushing touchdown of the game, scoring from a yard out as time expired.
Nico Gramatica added the extra point to send USF into halftime ahead 28-17.
The Bulls entered the locker room with an 11-point advantage, but Delaware State had repeatedly answered when USF appeared ready to pull away.
That stopped in the second half.
Bulls Put the Sting on Delaware State
USF came out of halftime ready to end the conversation.
Delaware State moved into USF territory on its opening drive of the third quarter, and Ale initially appeared to fumble on a third-down run. A review overturned the call and ruled him down, giving the Hornets another chance.
They could not take advantage.
Boykins was stopped one yard short on fourth-and-7, turning the ball over to USF at its own 39.
The Bulls wasted little time.
After a 23-yard completion from Van Buren to Seldon moved USF into Delaware State territory, Crowther ripped off a 39-yard touchdown run to make it 35-17 with 10:39 left in the third quarter.
Delaware State punted on its next possession.
USF came right back.
The Bulls marched 75 yards on eight plays, with Van Buren finding Porter multiple times on the drive before Jason Collins Jr. punched it in from five yards out.
USF led 42-17 with 3:18 remaining in the third.
Delaware State turned to Jayden Sauray at quarterback on its next possession, but the Hornets still could not get much going. Another punt sent USF back onto the field, and the Bulls carried the drive into the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately for Delaware State, the fourth quarter existed.
Van Buren finished the drive by finding Porter for a five-yard touchdown with 13:02 remaining.
49-17.
Delaware State went three-and-out.
USF came right back.
After Kromenhoek completed passes to Alvon Isaac and Kenny Odom, Chase Garnett broke through the middle for a 45-yard touchdown.
56-17. 8:56 left.
By that point, the game that had been separated by only four points late in the second quarter had turned into a rout.
Delaware State managed just nine yards on its next possession and punted again.
USF took over at its own 24 and continued moving the ball, driving 73 yards before Delaware State’s defense finally kept the Bulls out of the end zone.
Gramatica connected on a 20-yard field goal to make it 59-17 with 1:51 remaining.
Delaware State went three-and-out one final time and punted with 11 seconds on the clock.
And then we blinked.
Final: South Florida 59, Delaware State 17.
USF scored 38 unanswered points after Delaware State pulled within 21-17 late in the second quarter, shutting the Hornets out for the entire second half.
The Bulls finished with 611 yards of offense. Van Buren threw for 300 yards, Crowther rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns, and Porter finished with eight receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.
USF improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2018 and extended its home winning streak to nine games.
After a first half in which Delaware State repeatedly found a way to answer, the Bulls made sure there was nothing left to answer in the second.
USF handled business at home in Tampa.
