USF POSTGAME REPORT
USF 17 – Tulsa 14
Offense
–USF leaned on late-game composure rather than consistency, escaping with a 17–14 victory over Tulsa at Raymond James Stadium after a tense, mistake-filled night that stayed in doubt until the final second.
–Quarterback Locklan Hewlett finished 25-of-35 for 319 yards with one touchdown and one interception, engineering the game’s defining drive in the final minute to set up the winning field goal.
–Despite the yardage advantage, the Bulls struggled to capitalize in the red zone and left points on the field, converting just once inside the 20 and committing two turnovers that kept Tulsa within striking distance.
–USF ran the ball only 14 times, a point Head Coach DJ Porter addressed directly afterward.
–Connor Suggs scored a touchdown on a 21-yard run in the first quarter and averaged over five yards per carry on limited opportunities.
–Jeremiah Stoneburner delivered the explosive moment of the night, hauling in a 57-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to briefly give USF breathing room.
–“We should have run the ball more. That’s on me,” Porter said. “I’ve got to be more consistent as a play-caller. We made it harder than it needed to be.”
Defense
–USF’s defense once again set the tone, holding Tulsa to one rushing yard on 21 attempts and consistently winning at the line of scrimmage.
–The Bulls bottled up the run entirely, forcing Tulsa quarterback Andrew Alford to shoulder nearly the entire offensive burden through the air.
–Eric Rance led the unit with 14 tackles and three tackles for loss, while Kevin Wynn, Jathan Hatch, and Jermaine Dalias repeatedly disrupted the pocket.
–Hatch recorded a sack and multiple pressures, continuing his strong play as a rover presence capable of affecting both run and pass.
–Cameron Keys delivered a pivotal interception in the endzone that swung momentum back to USF after killing a long Tulsa drive.
–Both teams gambled on fourth-and-goal in the third quarter, with neither converting, a stretch that underscored the physical, defense-driven nature of the game.
–Tulsa eventually tied the game with just over a minute remaining, setting the stage for USF’s final response.
Special Teams
–Freshman kicker Dom Bragg delivered the moment of the night, calmly drilling a 21-yard field goal as time expired to seal the win.
–The kick capped a poised two-minute drive orchestrated by Hewlett, who methodically moved the Bulls into position without forcing the ball.
–Bragg finished a perfect 2-for-2 on extra points and converted his lone field-goal attempt under pressure.
–Dorian McSurdy averaged 45 yards on two punts, helping keep Tulsa pinned deep in a game dominated by field position.
Quotables
“That last drive is what you want from your quarterback, calm, decisive, and in control.” – DJ Porter
“We knew it was going to come down to one play. We stayed ready.” – Locklan Hewlett
“Defense gave us the chance. Special teams finished it.” – Eric Rance
“You dream about moments like that as a kicker.” – Dom Bragg
News
–USF improved to 8–0 on the season and remained unbeaten in American Conference play.
–Locklan Hewlett's touchdown pass was the 72nd of his career, passing Quinton Flowers for the USF career lead.
Injury Notes
–Despite a number of missed plays by various offensive linesmen USF exited the game without any significant new injuries.
Next Up
–USF will continue conference play next week at Charlotte (3-4|1-4) as the Bulls look to clean up execution while maintaining their unbeaten start.
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