LAST SECOND MAGIC
Gerberry’s 62-yard dagger lifts Notre Dame past USF in thriller
Saturday September 15, 2029 | 7:30 PM | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida - For much of Saturday night, it felt like South Florida had done just enough to pull off a statement win. Instead, it was Notre Dame that walked out of Raymond James Stadium with the final word, and one of the most dramatic finishes of the young season.
The opening possession set the tone for a night that would swing wildly in both directions. Notre Dame marched methodically down the field, repeatedly testing a USF defense that struggled early to slow the Irish tempo. The drive appeared destined for points before USF's Keon Brents stepped in front of a pass for an interception, briefly flipping momentum. But the Bulls couldn’t capitalize, going three-and-out and punting the ball right back.
That missed opportunity proved costly. Notre Dame regrouped immediately, driving down the field with ease behind quarterback Ethan Houck. A 42-yard burst from Dan Scmyzniak ignited the march, and Houck finished it with a short touchdown pass to Eric Culver for a 7–0 lead.
The teams traded punts as both defenses settled in, until a sudden spark changed the game. In the second quarter, USF corner Devin Nowell jumped a route and raced 62 yards for a pick-six, tying the game and bringing the home crowd to life.
Notre Dame answered like a veteran team. Houck led another composed, methodical drive, picking apart the USF secondary with short, efficient throws before capping it off with a touchdown pass to Marquis Fleck. Once again, the Irish were back in control, but not for long.
Just before halftime, USF finally found rhythm offensively. Locklan Hewlett lofted a jump ball to Lyle Dragos, who came down with a 25-yard touchdown to even the score at 14–14 heading into the break.
The back-and-forth continued in the third quarter. Hewlett gave the Bulls their first lead of the night with an 8-yard touchdown strike to Dominick Moncrief, finishing off a crisp drive. But once again, Notre Dame had an answer. Houck connected with Marquis Fleck for a 39-yard gain to set up the possession, then found Jeremiah Tigner for a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game at 21.
From there, the tension only built.
Both defenses tightened in the fourth quarter, with neither side able to break through. Notre Dame appeared ready to seize control with 3:45 remaining, but kicker Ben Gerberry pushed a 30-yard attempt off the left upright, keeping USF’s hopes alive.
The Bulls couldn’t take advantage. A third-down sack stalled their next drive, but the defense responded with a crucial stop, forcing a Notre Dame three-and-out and giving Hewlett one final chance.
After an 18-yard connection with Dragos moved USF into range, the Irish defense rose up. Hewlett had three consecutive passes knocked down, setting up a pivotal fourth down with just seven seconds remaining. Rather than settle, head coach DJ Porter made his decision, USF was going for the win.
The pass was batted down.
And just like that, the door swung back open.
With no time left, Notre Dame lined up for a desperation 62-yard field goal. Gerberry, moments removed from a miss, drilled it cleanly through the uprights, silencing the stadium and sealing a stunning 24–21 victory.
“We were playing to win, not playing to not lose,” Porter said afterward. “We liked what we had dialed up. Gerberry made a great play. Nine times out of ten, that game goes to overtime.”
Instead, it went into the win column for Notre Dame, who controlled much of the night statistically, outgaining USF 380 to 302 and converting key third downs, yet still needed a last-second miracle to escape.
Houck finished 30-of-39 for 253 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball effectively to Fleck, Culver, and Tigner. Scmyzniak added 78 yards on the ground, including the game’s longest run, as the Irish offense consistently found ways to sustain drives.
For USF, Hewlett threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns, with Dragos and Camarda leading the receiving corps. The defense delivered timely plays, including two interceptions and Nowell’s momentum-shifting score, but couldn’t quite get the final stop.
In a game defined by swings, stops, and second chances, it ultimately came down to one kick, and Gerberry delivered the moment of the night.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
ND – Eric Culver 4-yard pass from Ethan Houck (Ben Gerberry kick), 2:26
Second Quarter
USF – Devin Nowell 62-yard interception return (Dom Bragg kick), 5:15
ND – Marquis Fleck 8-yard pass from Ethan Houck (Ben Gerberry kick), 1:18
USF – Lyle Dragos 25-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Dom Bragg kick), 0:48
Third Quarter
USF – Dominick Moncrief 8-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Dom Bragg kick), 3:57
ND – Jeremiah Tigner 7-yard pass from Ethan Houck (Ben Gerberry kick), 1:13
Fourth Quarter
ND – Ben Gerberry 62-yard field goal, 0:00
USF Stat Leaders
Passing
L. Hewlett – 15/28, 175 Yds, 2 TD, 0 INT, 53%, 6.2 YPA
Rushing
C. Suggs – 13 Car, 67 Yds, 5.1 Avg
S. Snead – 4 Car, 12 Yds, 3.0 Avg
G. Shembo – 1 Car, -1 Yd, -1.0 Avg
L. Hewlett – 1 Car, -12 Yds, -12.0 Avg
Receiving
L. Dragos – 4 Rec, 69 Yds, 17.2 Avg, 1 TD
G. Camarda – 5 Rec, 67 Yds, 13.4 Avg
S. Snead – 2 Rec, 19 Yds, 9.5 Avg
D. Moncrief – 2 Rec, 11 Yds, 5.5 Avg, 1 TD
D. Smith – 1 Rec, 8 Yds, 8.0 Avg
J. Barr – 1 Rec, 1 Yd, 1.0 Avg
Defense
G. Jenkins – 8 Tkl (3 Solo, 5 Ast)
J. Hatch – 8 Tkl (4 Solo, 4 Ast), 2 TFL
K. Brents – 7 Tkl (4 Solo, 3 Ast), 1 INT
J. Bean – 6 Tkl (5 Solo, 1 Ast)
N. Jones – 6 Tkl (3 Solo, 3 Ast)
T. Bennett – 5 Tkl (3 Solo, 2 Ast)
A. Chambers – 5 Tkl (2 Solo, 3 Ast)
D. Nowell – 4 Tkl (1 Solo, 3 Ast), 1 INT (62 Yds, TD)
T. Peppers – 2 Tkl (1 Solo, 1 Ast)
R. Livings – 2 Tkl (2 Solo), 2 TFL
F. Droege – 1 Tkl (1 Solo)
S. Snead – 1 Tkl (0 Solo, 1 Ast)
J. Sowells – 1 Tkl (1 Solo)
Special Teams
D. Bragg – 0/0 FG, 3/3 XP
D. McSurdy – 4 Punts, 211 Yds, 52.7 Avg (38.7 Net)
E. York – 2 KR, 39 Yds (19.5 Avg), Long 20
E. York – 2 PR, 22 Yds (11.0 Avg), Long 12
Notre Dame Stat Leaders
Passing
E. Houck – 30/39, 253 Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT, 76%, 6.4 YPA
Rushing
D. Scmyzniak – 11 Car, 78 Yds, 7.0 Avg
E. Houck – 5 Car, 33 Yds, 6.6 Avg
Receiving
M. Fleck – 11 Rec, 114 Yds, 10.3 Avg, 1 TD
E. Culver – 6 Rec, 52 Yds, 8.6 Avg, 1 TD
D. Scmyzniak – 3 Rec, 36 Yds, 12.0 Avg
J. Tigner – 2 Rec, 19 Yds, 9.5 Avg, 1 TD
D. Beal – 4 Rec, 17 Yds, 4.2 Avg
J. Larsen – 3 Rec, 9 Yds, 3.0 Avg
G. Cross – 1 Rec, 6 Yds, 6.0 Avg
Defense
P. Bratzke – 6 Tkl (3 Solo, 3 Ast)
D. Yusaf – 5 Tkl (0 Solo, 5 Ast)
D. Melvin – 5 Tkl (2 Solo, 3 Ast)
J. Wisniewski – 4 Tkl (3 Solo, 1 Ast), 2 TFL
T. Chow – 4 Tkl (2 Solo, 2 Ast), 1 TFL
P. John – 4 Tkl (1 Solo, 3 Ast), 1 TFL
J. O’Neal – 4 Tkl (2 Solo, 2 Ast), 1 TFL
J. Abraham – 3 Tkl (0 Solo, 3 Ast)
D. Bada – 3 Tkl (2 Solo, 1 Ast)
B. Kahoun – 3 Tkl (1 Solo, 2 Ast), 1 TFL, 1.0 Sack
B. Fruh morgen – 3 Tkl (1 Solo, 2 Ast), 2 TFL
G. Watts – 2 Tkl (0 Solo, 2 Ast)
E. Peterson – 2 Tkl (1 Solo, 1 Ast)
Special Teams
B. Gerberry – 1/2 FG (Long 62), 3/3 XP
A. Estes – 2 Punts, 90 Yds, 45.0 Avg (34.0 Net)
D. Beal – 2 PR, 16 Yds (8.0 Avg), Long 15
| Category | Notre Dame | USF |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 24 | 21 |
| First Downs | 21 | 12 |
| Total Offense | 364 | 241 |
| Total Plays | 55 | 47 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.6 | 5.1 |
| Rush | Yards | TD | 16 | 111 | 0 | 19 | 66 | 0 |
| Yards Per Rush | 6.9 | 3.5 |
| Comp | Att | TD | 30 | 39 | 3 | 15 | 28 | 2 |
| Yards Per Pass | 6.5 | 6.3 |
| Passing Yards | 253 | 175 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 5 | 9 (55%) | 4 | 11 (36%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 1 | 3 (33%) |
| 2 Pt Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 0 (0%) |
| Red Zone TD | FG | % | 3 | 0 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 33% |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 0 |
| PR Yards | 16 | 22 |
| KR Yards | 0 | 39 |
| Total Yards | 380 | 302 |
| Punts (Avg) | 2 (45.0) | — |
| Penalties | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
