Bulls Best Bearcats

In a high scoring game with an odd ending, the South Florida Bulls bested the Cincinnati Bearcats 38-30. Before we get into the game, what the fuck happened to Zach Collaros? If you didn’t see, Collaros was pulled due to an apparent leg injury before the final drive to tie. Chazz Anderson got UC down to the USF 16, but DJ Woods dropped a sure first down and probable touchdown. The next play saw Anderson panic when no one was open, try to run and end up throwing the ball away. ESPN showed Collaros having his leg taped around the knee area. Maybe it is a slightly broken leg, dislocated knee cap, hairline fracture, I dunno. Collaros had a visible limp on the sideline and in the handshake line. There will be more coming out with the severity of the injury later, and I’ll do my best to post it here.

As for the game, the Bearcats woke up the South Florida offense, giving the Bulls their first win in Cincinnati. It was the Bearcats first Big East loss since 2 years ago this weekend, and the first home loss since November of 2007. South Florida scored 38 points, thanks to BJ Daniels going off. Daniels was 13-16-287-2 TDs with a team high 35 yards and 2 rushing TDs, including one at the 9:30 mark that made it 38-23. Daniels picked on the UC secondary deep. He hit a 31 yard TD pass to Evan Landi when Drew Frey blew coverage. He hit Dontavia Bogan (3-85) on a bomb for 64 yards over Reuben Johnson. He hit Faron Hornes for a wide open 71 yard TD after UC couldn’t convert a 4th & 1. Once again, Frey blew coverage. He went to play run for some unknown reason, leaving the receiver open.

UC had some moments as well. For the first time in school history they had 3 receivers get 100 yards. Armon Binns continues to put up amazing numbers, 12-159-2 TDs. Binns caught the TD to make it 38-30. But Binns had a huge drop. With the score 17-10 before the half, Binns dropped a wide open slant pass in the end zone. UC would settle for 3. Marcus Barnett went off for 9-174-1 TD. When I said in the preview he needed to step up, I didn’t see this coming. He made a fantastic catch on a 32 yard Hail Mary on a 4th & 8 to make the score 31-23. He made big plays all night. DJ Woods was no slouch, catching 9-137. Collaros was 30-53-463-3 TDs-1 INT.

I stretched this post out longer than I normally would to get info on Collaros, but everyone is reporting UC isn’t telling tonight, so I guess we will hear tomorrow. The Bulls played very well tonight, but the Bearcats helped them, by beating themselves. Let’s make a number list of all the things that were blown by the Bearcats.

1. 12 penalties for 115. Not acceptable by a long shot.
2. Zach Collaros holds on the ball forever on a 2nd and goal from the 5, is sacked for 15 yards, UC settles for 3.
3. Collaros holds the ball an eternity, takes a 5 yard sack from the 7 to the 2. UC has a short field to punt. The ball returned to the UC 31. Leading to:
4. Drew Frey totally blows coverage on Landi, USF makes it 14-3.
5. Bomar and Schaffer end up on Bogan in coverage on 3-12. Play gets 17 yards, allows FG. USF goes up 17-10
6. After Bones gets a 69 yard pass and run, UC calls timeout with USF reeling. That leads to:
7. Binns dropping sure TD pass. UC settles for 3. 17-13.
8. Collaros makes a terrible throw that Skinny Raymond easily reads. Raymond goes through Woods and picks it off at the USF 14. On that drive, Collaros nearly threw a pick 6 to Raymond.
9. UC gets the ball to the USF 27, stalls out settling for 3. 17-16.
10. Johnson burnt by Bogan. Leads to Murray TD run to make it 24-16.
11. 3-1, UC offensive line blown up by 94, forcing Pead to leap, I don’t know why either, coming up a yard short.
12. On 4th down, UC runs a predictable QB run very similar to the one Louisville ran last week before the second missed FG. Turnover on downs that leads to:
13. Frey blows coverage, Hornes 71 yard TD to make it 31-16.
14. Collaros sacked on a 3 step drop. Don’t know how this happens. It’s the third time he held the ball too long and got sacked.
15. 3-6, Daniels rolls right. The threat of the run has the linebackers give up coverage, leading to Demetris Murray being wide open for 39 yards to the UC 2. Daniels ran the rest of the way to make it 38-23.
16. Derek Wolfe kicks a player on USF after the TD.
17. Chazz Anderson leading the team down the field. He runs for no gain. It’s ok. What’s not ok is that there was a minute left. UC has two timeouts. Butch Jones does his best Les Miles impersonation, and let’s the clock roll. 22 seconds go by, and UC gets whistled for a false start.
18. DJ Woods drops a 3rd and 4 pass that would have been a first down and maybe a TD.
19. UC has 1 timeout left. 4th and 4 with your backup QB. They don’t use it. Chazz is forced into a bad play.

That’s 3 times UC turned the ball over inside the USF 30. They settle for too many field goals, and give up huge plays. Throw in the fact the coaching staff had their heads up their ass the last drive, and that’s how you lose. Hopefully Zach Collaros will be alright. UC will be sunk without him. Keep in mind that UC controls their fate in the Big East. And keep in mind that UC could afford to lose a Big East game this season. They lost in 2008 and still won the conference. What they can’t do is help the other team beat them. That’s what happened tonight, and that’s why Cincinnati is 3-4 and wondering where to go from here.