USF hosted a high-powered Navy team on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls recently earned their way back to a .500 record after a major win over FAU. On the other hand, Navy started their season flawless through their first six contests, but sputtered recently to Notre Dame and Rice. Despite their recent struggles, the Midshipmen proved to be an incredibly difficult opponent for the Bulls.
Navy opened the game strong on offense by using their signature flexbone formation to run consecutive triple options. On only their fourth play of the opening drive, running back Eli Heidenreich broke loose on a pitch and scampered down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown. The opening drive score put the Midshipmen up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
With Bryce Archie under center for the fourth straight game due to the absence of quarterback Byrum Brown, the offense had an early deficit to surmount. Wide receiver JeyQuan Smith broke free on a screen pass for 37 yards to quickly set up the Bulls in opposing territory. With the offense set up in the red zone, Archie failed to read Navy linebacker Kyle Jacob underneath his targeted dig route. Jacob spoiled the early USF scoring effort by intercepting the pass and keeping the Bulls from scoring on their initial drive.
Navy was able to capitalize on the turnover as they methodically marched down the field. Five different ball carriers set the Midshipmen up in the red zone before Brandon Chatman became the sixth carrier of the drive and took a pitch up the middle of the USF defense for a 20-yard touchdown. Navy’s second touchdown in only two drives backed the Bulls into a double digit deficit by a score of 14-0.
Bryce Archie’s continual accuracy struggles kept USF from doing anything on their next offensive drive as they suffered a quick three and out.
The Bulls defense stood strong as they forced Navy into a rare passing situation on 3rd & 8 at midfield. Navy’s offensive line immediately caved which allowed defensive tackle Bernard Gooden to have a clean shot at quarterback Blake Horvath. Gooden clobbered the junior signal caller and forced a crucial fumble that was recovered by defensive end Decarius Hawtorne to give possession back to the USF offense.
USF began to drive down the field before they squandered their own opportunity yet again. On a 4th & 5 at the opposing 28-yard line, head coach Alex Golesh made the daring decision to go for it rather than settle for a field goal. This backfired as the offensive line crumpled and allowed Bryce Archie to be sacked, which turned the ball back over to the Navy offense.
The USF defense was able to make up for the miscue by standing tall against the Navy rushing attack and forced a punt back to their offense. However, the offense was still unable to get anything going and were forced into another three and out and had to surrender the ball back to Navy.
A third straight defensive stop for the Bulls gave the offense another chance as the first half neared its conclusion. Boos from the home crowed filled the stadium as USF was forced into another three and out and were still scoreless in the contest.
Navy was forced to punt again by the USF defense. The defense had really come into their own after allowing two touchdowns early in the game. However, this did not make up for the numerous mishaps of the offense. Bryce Archie laid out a great pass to wide receiver Michael Brown-Stephens which would have been a walk in touchdown had it not been dropped. The incompletion forced the offense to punt the ball right back to Navy.
The USF defense gave the offense one more chance before the end of the first half by forcing another punt. However, the struggles persisted as Bryce Archie lobbed an underthrown pass down the sideline which was intercepted by Navy defensive back Ira Oniha with 14 seconds remaining in the half.
Navy made quick work of their opportunity as the Bulls defense was only able to hold strong for so long. A quick 15-yard carry by fullback Alex Tecza set the Navy offense up inside of the opposing 40-yard line. Then, Blake Horvath connected with Tecza on a check down pass who weaved his way through USF defenders on his way to a 38-yard touchdown. The score put the Midshipmen up 21-0 as the first half concluded.
The clock turning over to the second half did not help the Bulls to get their offense going. An early three and out led to the Midshipmen offense earning a quick opportunity on offense.
An early punt from Navy gave Bryce Archie another chance with the offense. He broke off a 35-yard rush off an option up the middle of the field which set the Bulls up in opposing territory. However, just as things were coming together for the offense, Archie was sacked by Navy defenders and fumbled the ball away which resulted in another USF turnover.
Back to back punts by both sides led to a 4th & 2 for Navy on their own side of the field. While they appeared to be lined up to punt, the Midshipmen snapped the ball to the upback Landon Robinson who ran down the sideline for a 34-yard gain. The huge play set Navy up inside the red zone. They decided to go for it again on fourth down and ran Blake Horvath to the outside as he dove for the pylon and scored Navy’s fourth touchdown of the game. The play put them up massively by a score of 28-0 in the fourth quarter.
USF was finally able to get something going on offense as Bryce Archie launched a missile of a throw down the middle of the field into the hands of JeyQuan Smith for a 48-yard gain. They managed to work the ball all the way down inside the five-yard line before Archie was stuffed on a fourth down rush attempt, which squandered the best opportunity the Bulls had for scoring points in the second half.
Navy gave the USF offense one final opportunity before the game’s end, and Archie was finally able to get something going, albeit about 59 minutes of game time too late. The Bulls methodically marched down the field and capped the drive off with a strike from Archie to Michael Brown-Stephens who contorted in the back of the end zone to make an impressive touchdown grab. The score abled USF to avoid the shutout and finish the game by a score of 28-7.
Following the game, coach Alex Golesh said, “I’m really disappointed in us, disappointed in myself… in what we played like… it was just opportunity lost, after opportunity lost, after opportunity lost.”
For Navy, they now soar to a 7-2 (5-1) record on the season as they prepare to make a push for an American Conference title.
For USF, this was undoubtedly one of their worst showings of the season. They fall to a 4-5 (2-3) record and will look to bounce back next week as they travel to North Carolina to take on Charlotte in another American Conference game. It seems apparent now that the Bulls will desperately need Byrum Brown back on the field if they wish to make a final push at bowl eligibility in the closing weeks of the season.