
DOMINATION
USF overcomes slow start to dominate UTSA


Saturday November 20, 2027 | 3:30PM | Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida - On a humid November afternoon at Raymond James Stadium, USF didn’t just beat UTSA, they overwhelmed them. After a sluggish opening quarter and an early safety that briefly stunned the home crowd, the Bulls responded with one of their most complete performances of the season, rolling past the Roadrunners 44–12 in a game that showcased explosive offense, relentless defensive pressure, and a surprisingly dominant effort against a UTSA unit known for lighting up scoreboards.
For a UTSA team that entered the matchup with a reputation for balance and playmaking, South Florida’s defensive showing was nothing short of shocking. The Roadrunners were limited to just 219 yards of total offense, struggled to establish the run, and produced only one offensive touchdown, well after the outcome was decided. USF head coach DJ Porter called it “one of our most complete games of the year,” and the Bulls played like it.
Once USF shook off the early jitters, junior quarterback Locklan Hewlett took complete control. Hewlett delivered one of the finest performances of his career, completing 26 of 40 passes for 396 yards and three touchdowns while relentlessly attacking UTSA’s secondary. His favorite target, Tyler Williams, completely dismantled the Roadrunners’ coverage looks, finishing with 10 receptions for 218 yards and two long touchdown strikes of 53 and 51 yards. Dawann Troup added another 112 yards on five catches, including a 75-yard burst on a screen pass that ignited the stadium, while Jordyn Bridgewater added a key red-zone touchdown as the Bulls put together a 21-point surge spanning the second and third quarters.
USF’s defense played every bit as well as the offense. UTSA quarterbacks Tucker Parks and Emanuel Rome were held to a combined 120 passing yards with no touchdowns, and the Roadrunners’ typically reliable rushing attack mustered only 99 yards on 35 attempts. Linebacker Eric Rance was a force, recording three tackles for loss and a sack, while Ira Singleton contributed two TFLs of his own. The Bulls consistently closed lanes, tackled in space, and suffocated UTSA’s attempts to get their playmakers involved.
The Roadrunners’ struggles on third down, just 2-for-13, proved fatal for any rhythm they hoped to generate, and USF’s offense repeatedly capitalized with quick-strike drives. Even the special teams battle leaned heavily in the Bulls’ favor. Nico Gramatica drilled field goals from 46 and 20 yards and converted all four PATs, while Adam Zouagui, Gramatica's backup, added his first career field goal late to punctuate the win.
UTSA continued to fight, getting 61 hard-earned rushing yards from John Ricci and a fourth-quarter touchdown from D.J. Tyms, but they never found the explosive moments they usually rely on. Drops stalled key drives, protection issues allowed USF defenders free shots at the quarterbacks, and the Bulls’ defense eliminated UTSA’s perimeter options.
In the end, USF outgained UTSA 554–219, doubled them in first downs, dominated time of possession, and outplayed the Roadrunners in every phase.
For UTSA, the loss is a reminder that even potent, well-coached offenses can be derailed when they lose battles at the line of scrimmage and fail to flip the field. For USF, it may be the moment their identity fully crystallized—a fast, physical, confident group capable of imposing its will on anyone.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
(UTSA) Team Safety, 7:36
(USF) Nico Gramatica 46-yard FG, 4:41
Second Quarter
(USF) Tyler Williams 53-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Nico Gramatica kick), 4:04
(USF) Jordyn Bridgewater 3-yard pass from Joshua Brantley (Nico Gramatica kick), 1:30
Third Quarter
(USF) Daidren Zipperer 2-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Nico Gramatica kick), 8:15
(UTSA) Shane Kurtz 34-yard FG, 5:44
(USF) Tyler Williams 51-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Nico Gramatica kick), 4:35
(USF) Nico Gramatica 20-yard FG, 0:43
Fourth Quarter
(UTSA) D.J. Tyms 1-yard run (Shane Kurtz kick), 4:15
(USF) George Shembo 7-yard run (Adam Zouagui kick), 2:16
(USF) Adam Zouagui 27-yard FG, 0:00
USF Stat Leaders
Passing
L. Hewlett – 26/40, 396 Yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
T. Stanley – 1/2, 14 Yds
J. Brantley – 1/1, 3 Yds, 1 TD
Rushing
C. Suggs – 6 Car, 43 Yds, 7.1 Avg, Long 0 (10 YAC)
N. Daniel – 9 Car, 42 Yds, 4.6 Avg, Long 12
S. Snead – 6 Car, 39 Yds, 6.5 Avg, Long 10
G. Shembo – 3 Car, 17 Yds, 5.6 Avg, 1 TD, Long 1
Receiving
T. Williams – 10 Rec, 218 Yds, 21.8 Avg, 2 TD, Long 53
D. Troup – 5 Rec, 112 Yds, 22.4 Avg, Long 75
J. Bridgewater – 4 Rec, 27 Yds, 6.7 Avg, 1 TD, Long 10
K. Michaels – 3 Rec, 23 Yds, 7.6 Avg, Long 14
D. Zipperer – 3 Rec, 21 Yds, 7.0 Avg, 1 TD, Long 12
S. Snead – 3 Rec, 12 Yds, 4.0 Avg, Long 13
Defense
N. Jones – 7 Tkl, 1 TFL
C. Hawkins – 6 Tkl
E. Rance – 6 Tkl, 3 TFL, 1 Sck
G. Jenkins – 5 Tkl
I. Singleton – 5 Tkl, 2 TFL, 0.5 Sck
D. Felton – 4 Tkl, 2 TFL, 0.5 Sck
D. Exume – 3 Tkl, 1 TFL
J. Grant – 1 Tkl, 1 TFL, 1 Sck
Special Teams
N. Gramatica – 2/2 FG (Long 47), 4/4 XP
A. Zouagui – 1/1 FG (27), 1/1 XP
E. York – 1 KR, 20 Yds (20.0 Avg); 2 PR, 23 Yds (11.5 Avg), Long 14
D. Igbinoghene – 2 KR, 25 Yds (12.5 Avg), Long 23
UTSA Stat Leaders
Passing
T. Parks – 5/7, 69 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
E. Rome – 6/12, 51 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
J. Ricci – 12 Car, 61 Yds, 5.0 Avg
T. Parks – 8 Car, 17 Yds, 2.1 Avg
E. Rome – 9 Car, 10 Yds, 1.1 Avg
D. Tyms – 2 Car, 5 Yds, 2.5 Avg, 1 TD
Receiving
N. Wallace – 4 Rec, 44 Yds, 11.0 Avg, Long 17
A. Akbar – 2 Rec, 42 Yds, 21.0 Avg, Long 26
K. Price – 1 Rec, 14 Yds, 14.0 Avg
I. Butler-Tanner – 2 Rec, 13 Yds, 6.5 Avg
Defense
R. Lester – 9 Tkl
C. Upshaw Jr. – 8 Tkl
M. Wile – 7 Tkl
C. Blaylock – 6 Tkl
K. Collier – 6 Tkl, 1 INT, 20 INT Yds
D. Martin – 6 Tkl
P. Davis – 5 Tkl
J. Rodgers – 4 Tkl
D. Rowe – 4 Tkl
B. Whitehead – 4 Tkl
Special Teams
S. Kurtz – 1/2 FG (Long 35), 1/1 XP
M. Petro – 6 Punts, 243 Yds, 40.5 Avg, Net 36.6, 1 In-20
I. Day – 1 KR, 31 Yds, 31.0 Avg
N. Wallace – 3 KR, 70 Yds, 23.3 Avg, Long 26
Team Stats Comparison
| Category | USF | UTSA |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 44 | 12 |
| First Downs | 26 | 12 |
| Total Offense | 554 | 219 |
| Total Plays | 67 | 54 |
| Yards Per Play | 8.3 | 4.1 |
| Rush | Yards | TD | 24|141|1 | 35|99|1 |
| Yards Per Rush | 5.9 | 2.8 |
| Comp | Att | TD | 28|43|4 | 11|19|0 |
| Yards Per Pass | 9.6 | 6.3 |
| Passing Yards | 413 | 120 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 7|12 (58%) | 2|13 (15%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 1|2 (50%) | 2|4 (50%) |
| 2 Pt Conv. | 0|0 (0%) | 0|0 (0%) |
| Red Zone TD | FG | % | 3|2|83% | 1|1|100% |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 (+1) |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| PR Yards | 23 | 0 |
| KR Yards | 45 | 101 |
| Total Yards | 622 | 320 |
| Punts (Avg) | 0.0 | 40.5 |
| Penalties | 4|20 | 2|15 |







