The Sports Xchange
Oct 14, 2017
TAMPA, Fla. -- Quarterback Quinton Flowers totaled more than 260 yards of offense as South Florida lengthened the nation's longest streak with a 33-3 rout of the University of Cincinnati on Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium.
Flowers had game highs in rushing (80 yards) and passing (178 yards) for the No. 18 Bulls (6-0, 3-0 AAC East), who have won 11 straight games and are 6-0 for the first time since 2007.
Despite recording their lowest point total since Sept. 2 against Stony Brook, the Bulls reached the 30-point plateau for the 23rd straight game, tying the University of Oregon (2011-12) for the longest streak all-time.
Flowers accounted for the only touchdown for the second half, scoring on a fourth-and-goal from the Bearcats' 1-yard line. USF is now 6-for-8 this season on fourth-down conversion attempts.
Darius Tice rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown for South Florida, which remained perfect under head coach Charlie Strong despite being flagged for 137 yards of penalties.
The Bearcats (2-5, 0-3) were limited to 95 rushing yards and failed to convert 15 of 18 third-down attempts in losing for the fourth straight time. Saturday marked the first time this season Cincinnati failed to score at least 14 points.
Quarterback Hayden Moore threw for 147 yards and Michael Warren III lead the Bearcats with 47 rushing yards.
The first half ended with a flourish when South Florida linebacker Auggie Sanchez stepped in front of Moore's pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving the Bulls a 23-3 lead.
It was the second touchdown in less than three minutes for South Florida, after the two teams spent most of the first half trading field goals. Emilio Nadelman, who entered the game having hit his last nine attempts, booted three for the Bulls (from 39, 28 and 21 yards). Ryan Jones hit a 30-yard attempt for the Bearcats.
South Florida finally found the end zone when Tice bounced off a blocker and scored on an 11-yard run with 2:24 to play before the half. The score was set up by a 37-yard pass from Flowers to Temi Alaka, which was the longest play of the half.
Flowers ran for 11 yards on his first carry of the game to give him 3,000 rushing yards for his career.
NOTES: The game was rescheduled from Oct. 28 because of Hurricane Irma. Cincinnati will have its bye that week. ... There was a moment of silence prior to the game for Mike Radomski, South Florida's assistant director of athletic communications who died Thursday in a car accident. ... QB Quinton Flowers is the 21st FBS quarterback to eclipse 3,000 career rushing yards. ... The Bearcats have been outscored 65-27 this season in the first quarter. ... South Florida plays Tulane next week for the first time in school history.