B.J. Boo-tiful in Bulls Brew Bash

Trick-or-treating in Tampa
It was a turf of terror for 20th ranked West Virginia on the ghostly gridiron Halloween Eve in college football. The South Florida Bull brewed up a spine-chilling contest behind B.J. Daniels to mash the Mountaineers 30-19 in Tampa. Daniels monstrously managed the Mountaineers through the air and on the ground. The frightening freshman passer scampered for over 100 yards and threw for 232 more. If the Bulls had any trepidation facing the ‘Eers, it was well-founded. But the Mountaineers played more like stiffened mummies than blood-sucking vampires. The Bulls mixed in a little of Love potion number nine, err eleven. A.J. Love, the USF’s junior receiver caught for 71 yards on three receptions. Number 11 recorded a second quarter touchdown from Daniels to give the Bulls a 17-9 lead. Wideout, Carlton Mitchell, scared up a score of his own in the first quarter. Mitchell managed to the game at seven with a 49 yard bomb from his quarterback. The two connected fives for 132 yards.
Jarrett Brown, the starting signal-caller for WVU, completed 19 of his 32 passes. He found the endzone from three yards out on an 80 yard drive in the opening quarter. The senior quarterback had sporadic success against South Florida’s petrifying defensive pressure. The West Virginia offense was sharp to start the game but never got into a rhythm. Noel Devine, one of the Big East’s best tailbacks, was limited to 42 yards on 17 carries. It was a rude homecoming for the Florida native. Devine entered Friday averaging 103 yards per game on the ground. The speedy 5’7” back only carried the ball twice in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineer pass defense was exposed at Raymond James Stadium. Jason Paul-Pierre and George Selvie were like Frankenstein and Frankenstein Junior to the WVU offensive line. The lineman tandem disrupted everything Brown sought to do with the ball last night. They were electrifying in sealing up the lanes and preventing Devine from slipping through open holes. Daniels and the Bulls made it look easy on offense. They beat the Mountaineer secondary twice on deep throws by Daniels. Keith Tandy, cornerback for WVU, was especially prone to missing receivers. WVU trailed 20-12 at halftime. The visitors were able to register a safety in this haunted house of horrors. But the Mountaineers ineffectiveness resurfaced as the Bulls pulled further ahead to victory. When WVU doesn’t get their breathtaking back involved, the team usually swallows a setback. Such was the case in a sweltering South Florida stadium. Bill Stewart’s team now has a svelte chance of winning the Big East title.
South Florida upset the Mountaineers as Daniels went without an interception. The wicked win over WVU served as a respectable rebound game for the Bulls, while the Mountaineers suffered their first conference loss of the year. Daniels sustained drives for Jim Leavitt’s reeling Bulls. Last week, he threw only eight passes and two interceptions before leaving the disaster in Pittsburgh. After two straight losses, Daniels looks ready to put the Bulls back in the Big East picture. The defense attacked and didn’t fold when things got tough. USF devoured and stymied their foes from the Mountain State and more importantly, reduced their total penalties. Even after West Virginia closed the gap to 20-19 in the third quarter, Daniels responded, answering with his third touchdown pass of the night. Mitchell snagged his 15th career pass of 30 or more yards and the receiver’s speed was on full display on Mischief Night down south. The receiver also has eight catches for more than 50 yards in his three year career. The depth displayed by the Bulls means the team won’t deteriorate. They have the talent to keep winning as their Big East schedule gets more completive by the week. Last night, South Florida has everyone spooked. They showed some of that grit that made them national title contenders just a few years ago. Daniels gobbled up yardage and Mitchell flashed his feet in a must-needed win over a ranked conference opponent. Perhaps a tune-up was all the Bulls needed. One thing is for sure: Daniels looked like a gifted green goblin in that USF uniform. For a guy making his fifth career start, enough can’t be said about his gridiron witchcraft Friday.

Parting Points: Dandy Andy will make Philly look Silly!
Happy Halloween!