Porter's Playbook | The Coaching Career of DJ Porter

[Soapy]

Easy belt, rest up for next week

[djp73]

nice job not falling to Southern Miss like many before you have

Struggled a bit to stop the run which was a bit of a disappointment given the addition of Wynn. Also did not run the ball as well as we hoped. First game growing pains I hope.

[djp73]

Taking care of business early. Solid win and a cupcake up next to warm up for Miami.

UConn has been pretty good. They are ranked and I believe the 2nd best team we face in terms of ratings this season.

[djp73]

Easy belt, rest up for next week

Watch us lose to UConn and beat Miami

[Agent]

UConn should be a fun match up

[djp73]

UConn should be a fun match up

I think so too

[djp73]

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SUGGS, YORK POWER BULLS PAST UCONN

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Suggs runs wild and York flips the game with a punt-return score as USF tops #25 UConn

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Saturday September 2, 2028 | 12:00 PM | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida

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Tampa, Florida - A first quarter punt return TD by Elton York set the tone for the Bulls as they came away with a big win over 25th ranked UConn in Tampa.

USF struck first, grinding out an early drive that stalled inside the red zone before Dom Bragg drilled a 20-yard field goal with 4:27 left in the first quarter. Moments later, the tone of the afternoon changed completely. Elton York fielded a punt, found some space up the right hashes, then cut back to the left sideline and never looked back. His 78-yard punt return touchdown sent the home crowd into a roar and gave the Bulls a 10–0 lead before the first quarter expired.

UConn responded in the second quarter with poise, relying on efficiency rather than explosiveness. Freshman kicker Steve Clutts connected from 29 yards to cut the deficit, and the Huskies’ passing game began to find rhythm. But just before halftime, USF capitalized on a defensive breakdown when Locklan Hewlett hit Jordyn Bridgewater in stride across the middle for a 15-yard touchdown. A missed extra point left the score 16–3 at the break.

To open the second half UConn methodically moved the ball again, but had to settle for Clutts’ second field goal, this one from 45 yards, to trim the lead to 16–6. The Huskies were winning time of possession and finding success through the air, but repeatedly stalled when space tightened.

USF countered with its most reliable weapon: Connor Suggs. The sophomore tailback sliced through the Uconne defense on a 13-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, momentarily restoring control. A failed two-point conversion kept the door open, and UConn stepped through it early in the fourth. Clutts added his third field goal of the afternoon, this time from 35 yards, pulling the Huskies within 13 at 22–9.

After a USF turnover on a lost fumble by Turner McLaughlin it was nose tackle Kevin Wynn bursting through the UConn offensive line and dropping Farrar for a loss on a fourth and one QB sneak attempt, giving the ball back to the Bulls' offense.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the final eight minutes. George Shembo capped a physical drive with a 5-yard touchdown plunge, and Bridgewater hauled in the two-point conversion to make it 30–9. UConn refused to fold, answering with a 6-yard touchdown pass from backup QB Ksaan Farrar to Shon Creed. USF answered with a short drive after recovering an onside kicks, with Suggs scoring from three yards out. UConn answered with an explosive strike, a 51-yard touchdown from Farrar to Israel Polk, that cut the margin to 37–23 with just over a minute remaining.

Any hope of a miracle faded quickly. USF recovered the ensuing kick, bled the clock, and escaped a game that often felt closer than the scoreboard suggested.

Suggs was the clear offensive star for the Bulls, finishing with 176 rushing yards on 19 carries, averaging 9.2 yards per attempt while accounting for two touchdowns. His vision and balance proved decisive on a day when the passing game took a backseat. Hewlett managed the game effectively, completing 15 of 21 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown without an interception.

Bridgewater led USF receivers with seven catches for 86 yards, while York’s special teams brilliance flipped field position repeatedly, finishing with 104 punt return yards and the game’s opening touchdown.

UConn, meanwhile, moved the ball efficiently through the air. Jamie Rhett completed 17 of 19 passes for 159 yards, and Farrar added 148 yards and two touchdowns off the bench after Rhett was knocked out of the game. Maurice Body was a consistent target, hauling in 13 catches for 95 yards, while Polk and Creed delivered the Huskies’ late scoring punches. Still, UConn’s inability to run the ball, just 50 rushing yards on 23 attempts, kept the offense one-dimensional when it mattered most.

USF’s pass rush was a decisive factor against UConn, consistently disrupting the pocket to the tune of five sacks, preventing the Huskies from fully capitalizing on their success through the air. Jahari Grant anchored the front, delivering a dominant performance with 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, repeatedly collapsing protection from the interior and forcing rushed throws. Kevin Wynn added to the pressure with a sack of his own, while Ira Singleton helped set the edge with multiple tackles for loss that stalled drives before they could develop. Behind them, linebackers like Jermaine Dalias flowed cleanly to the ball and finished plays when quarterbacks were flushed from the pocket. Even when UConn moved the chains, USF’s ability to generate pressure at critical moments helped turn potential touchdown drives into field goal attempts and kept the Bulls in control late.

The Bulls finished with 219 rushing yards and averaged 7.6 yards per carry, a stark contrast that ultimately decided the game.

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Scoring Summary
First Quarter
USF – Dom Bragg 20-yard FG, 4:27
USF – Elton York 78-yard punt return TD (Dom Bragg kick), 2:00
Second Quarter
UConn – Steve Clutts 29-yard FG, 7:20
USF – Jordyn Bridgewater 15-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (kick failed), 0:59
Third Quarter
UConn – Steve Clutts 45-yard FG, 6:25
USF – Connor Suggs 13-yard run (2-point conversion failed), 2:36
Fourth Quarter
UConn – Steve Clutts 35-yard FG, 8:25
USF – George Shembo 5-yard run (Jordyn Bridgewater 2-point conversion), 6:36
UConn – Shon Creed 6-yard pass from Ksaan Farrar (Steve Clutts kick), 3:13
USF – Connor Suggs 3-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 2:12
UConn – Israel Polk 51-yard pass from Ksaan Farrar (Steve Clutts kick), 1:28

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USF Stat Leaders
Passing
L. Hewlett – 15/21, 167 Yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
C. Suggs – 19 Car, 176 Yds, 9.2 Avg, 2 TD (45 YAC)
S. Snead – 4 Car, 19 Yds, 4.7 Avg
T. McLaughlin – 1 Car, 9 Yds, 9.0 Avg
N. Daniel – 3 Car, 9 Yds, 3.0 Avg (3 YAC)
G. Shembo – 1 Car, 5 Yds, 5.0 Avg, 1 TD
L. Hewlett – 1 Car, 1 Yd, 1.0 Avg
Receiving
J. Bridgewater – 7 Rec, 86 Yds, 12.2 Avg, 1 TD, Long 21 (35 RAC)
J. Stoneburner – 4 Rec, 46 Yds, 11.5 Avg, Long 19 (35 RAC)
C. Suggs – 1 Rec, 17 Yds, 17.0 Avg, Long 17 (21 RAC)
S. Snead – 2 Rec, 15 Yds, 7.5 Avg, Long 8 (7 RAC)
G. Camarda – 1 Rec, 3 Yds, 3.0 Avg, Long 3
Defense
E. Rance – 10 Tkl, 1 TFL
G. Jenkins – 9 Tkl
I. Kush – 7 Tkl
P. Traore – 7 Tkl
T. Bennett – 7 Tkl, 1 TFL
J. Dalias – 5 Tkl, 1 TFL
J. Grant – 5 Tkl, 4 TFL, 2.5 Sacks
K. Wynn – 3 Tkl, 2 TFL, 1.0 Sack
I. Singleton – 4 Tkl, 2 TFL
D. Felton – 3 Tkl, 1 TFL
Special Teams
D. Bragg – 1/1 FG, Long 21; 2/3 XP
D. McSurdy – 1 Punt, 48 Yds (48.0 Avg), Net 48.0
E. York – 3 KR, 57 Yds (19.0 Avg), Long 21, 3 PR, 104 Yds (34.6 Avg), 1 TD, Long 78

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UConn Stat Leaders
Passing
J. Rhett – 17/19, 159 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
K. Farrar – 10/12, 148 Yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
G. Winowich – 12 Car, 61 Yds, 5.0 Avg
I. Polk – 1 Car, 2 Yds, 2.0 Avg
K. Farrar – 2 Car, -6 Yds, -3.0 Avg
J. Rhett – 8 Car, -7 Yds, -0.8 Avg
Receiving
M. Body – 13 Rec, 95 Yds, 7.3 Avg
I. Polk – 5 Rec, 85 Yds, 17.0 Avg, 1 TD, Long 51
D. Jones – 3 Rec, 61 Yds, 20.3 Avg
S. Creed – 5 Rec, 60 Yds, 12.0 Avg, 1 TD
L. Diablo – 1 Rec, 6 Yds, 6.0 Avg
Defense
S. Suchanic – 9 Tkl
D. Flint – 8 Tkl
A. Bridges-Brooks – 7 Tkl, 1 TFL
T. Burnham – 7 Tkl
L. Slaby – 6 Tkl
E. Amaya – 6 Tkl, 1 TFL
Special Teams
S. Clutts – 3/3 FG (Long 46), 2/2 XP
J. Correa – 3 Punts, 126 Yds (42.0 Avg), Net 7.3
N. Booker – 1 KR, 16 Yds (16.0 Avg)

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Team Stats Comparison

Category	USF	UConn
Score	37	23
First Downs	19	18
Total Offense	386	357
Total Plays	50	54
Yards Per Play	7.7	6.6
Rush | Yards | TD	29 | 219 | 3	23 | 50 | 0
Yards Per Rush	7.6	2.2
Comp | Att | TD	15 | 21 | 1	27 | 31 | 2
Yards Per Pass	8.0	9.9
Passing Yards	167	307
3rd Down Conv.	4 | 9 (44%)	2 | 9 (22%)
4th Down Conv.	2 | 2 (100%)	1 | 1 (100%)
2 Pt Conv.	1 | 2 (50%)	0 | 0 (0%)
Red Zone TD | FG | %	4 | 1 | 83%	1 | 2 | 75%
Turnovers	1 (-1)	0 (+1)
Fumbles Lost	1	0
Interceptions	0	0
PR Yards	104	0
KR Yards	61	16
Total Yards	551	373
Punts (Avg)	48.0	42.0
Penalties	1 | 5	0 | 0

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[djp73]

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USF POSTGAME REPORT

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USF 37 – UConn 23

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Offense
–USF overcame early inconsistency and leaned on explosive plays and a dominant ground attack to secure a 37–23 win over UConn in its home opener at Raymond James Stadium. While the offense showed some early rust, the Bulls repeatedly flipped the game with big moments and finished strong in the fourth quarter.
–Running back Connor Suggs delivered a breakout performance, rushing for 176 yards on 19 carries and scoring twice. His vision and burst consistently punished UConn’s defensive front and provided stability when the passing game became situational.
–Quarterback Locklan Hewlett played an efficient, controlled game, completing 15 of 21 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Hewlett made key throws late to keep drives alive.
–Jordyn Bridgewater led the receiving corps with seven catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Jeremiah Stoneburner added four receptions for 46 yards. USF finished the day with three rushing touchdowns and scored on five of six red-zone trips.
–Despite leaving points on the field early, the Bulls averaged 7.7 yards per play and posted 551 total yards, a reflection of how dangerous the offense can be once execution sharpens.

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Defense
–USF’s defense bent at times but made critical plays when the game tightened, holding UConn to field goals on multiple extended drives and preventing the Huskies from establishing any kind of rushing rhythm.
–The Bulls limited UConn to just 50 rushing yards on 23 attempts, forcing the Huskies to rely heavily on the pass.
–Up front, Jahari Grant was dominant, finishing with 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, while Kevin Wynn and Ira Singleton added pressure that repeatedly collapsed the pocket.
–Eric Rance led the team with 10 tackles, and the second level cleaned up consistently when quarterbacks were forced to move.
–Though UConn found success through the air late, USF’s pressure and third-down defense helped prevent momentum swings in critical moments.
-On a UConn fourth and one Wynn burst through the offensive line and dropped UConn QB Farrar for a loss on an attempted sneak.

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Special Teams
–Special teams provided the game’s defining spark. Elton York flipped momentum in the first quarter with a 78-yard punt return touchdown and finished with 104 punt return yards and 57 kick return yards.
–Kicker Dom Bragg converted a 21-yard field goal and added two extra points, while punter Dorian McSurdy delivered a booming 48-yard punt that helped swing field position.
–USF’s return units consistently gave the offense short fields and helped offset missed opportunities elsewhere.

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Quotables
“We didn’t play perfect, but we played hard and finished. That’s what matters early in the season.” – DJ Porter
“When you’ve got a back running like Connor was today, your job is to stay patient and take what’s there.” – Locklan Hewlett
“Up front, that’s about effort and discipline. We wanted to make them one-dimensional.” – Jahari Grant
“We knew special teams could swing this game, and we took advantage.” – Elton York

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News
-USF is now ranked #24 after starting the season 2-0. UConn has dropped out of the top 25.

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Injury Notes
–Starting safety Nick Jones was injured midway through the game and did not return. It was revealed that the injury is a torn rotator cuff and Jones will likely miss the remainder of the season. Janes played in all 14 games as a freshman last season, finishing third on the team with 73 tackles. Jones played 47 snaps against Southern Miss and 27 against UConn before the injury. Jathan Hatch is expected to move into the starting lineup in his place.

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Next Up
–USF travels to Miami next Saturday for a marquee non-conference matchup as the Bulls continue their early-season stretch against nationally relevant opponents.

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[James]

Suggs really beat them up with all that yards after contact.

[djp73]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRAP-UP

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AMERICAN CONFERENCE REPORT

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American Conference Standings

Team	W-L	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	MOV	HOME	AWAY	STK
Florida Atlantic	1-1	.500	1-0	62	52	+10	+5.0	1-0	0-1	W1
USF	2-0	1.000	0-0	65	30	+35	+17.5	2-0	0-0	W2
UAB	1-0	1.000	0-0	27	24	+3	+3.0	0-0	1-0	W1
North Texas	2-0	1.000	0-0	60	49	+11	+5.5	1-0	1-0	W2
UTSA	1-0	1.000	0-0	27	13	+14	+14.0	1-0	0-0	W1
Charlotte	1-0	1.000	0-0	52	14	+38	+38.0	1-0	0-0	W1
Temple	1-1	.500	0-0	66	75	-9	-4.5	0-0	1-1	L1
Tulane	0-1	.000	0-0	22	31	-9	-9.0	0-0	0-1	L1
Rice	0-1	.000	0-0	14	28	-14	-14.0	0-0	0-1	L1
Memphis	0-1	.000	0-1	7	38	-31	-31.0	0-0	0-1	L1
East Carolina	0-1	.000	0-0	24	52	-28	-28.0	0-1	0-0	L1
Tulsa	0-0	.000	0-0	0	0	0	0.0	0-0	0-0	—

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American Conference Week 1 Scores
Charlotte 52, FCS Southeast 14
USF 37, #25 UConn 23
North Texas 26, Baylor 23
UTSA 27, Air Force 13
Florida 28, Rice 14
Florida Atlantic 38, Memphis 7
Oklahoma 52, Temple 31
NC State 52, East Carolina 24
UAB 27, Jacksonville State 24

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American Conference Players of the Week (Week 1)
Defensive: Ian Rembert – LB – Memphis | L 38–7 at Florida Atlantic | 13 TKL, 1 TFL, 3 PBU
Offensive: P.J. Sexton – WR – Florida Atlantic | W 38–7 vs Memphis | 5 REC, 122 REC YDS, 4 REC TD

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American Conference Week 2 Schedule
FCS Midwest at Florida Atlantic – Sat, Sep 9 – 2:15 PM
Temple at Charlotte – Sat, Sep 9 – 3:15 PM
Memphis at Arkansas – Sat, Sep 9 – 3:30 PM
FCS Midwest at Rice – Sat, Sep 9 – 3:30 PM
#24 USF at #11 Miami – Sat, Sep 9 – 3:30 PM
San Diego State at North Texas – Sat, Sep 9 – 7:00 PM
Tulsa at Louisiana – Sat, Sep 9 – 7:00 PM
Coastal Carolina at East Carolina – Sat, Sep 9 – 7:30 PM
UTSA at Texas State – Sat, Sep 9 – 7:30 PM

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