Bulls return to victory column after slow start, defeat Kent State 29-2 on homecoming

South Florida ended a two-game losing streak on Saturday, pulling away from outmatched Kent State 29-2, but the homecoming victory replayed the same offensive woes that have plagued the Bulls all season.

The Bulls (5-2) went ahead to stay in the second quarter on a school-record 96-yard fumble return by C.J. Hicks, and the defense kept Kent State out of the end zone until the offense found a spark in the third quarter.

For the fourth straight game, USF failed to score an offensive touchdown in the first half – and gave the Golden Flashes (2-5) their only points of the night on a safety.

Kent State’s defense came into the game giving up nearly 33 points per game and was ranked 93rd in the NCAA’s Bowl Subdivision, allowing 379 yards per game.

Yet, the Bulls squeezed out only 107 yards of offense and a last-second Nico Gramatica field goal in the first half for a 10-2 lead.

First-year USF head coach Brian Hartline said the problems were less about execution and more about “self-inflicted wounds.”

“Ultimately, if those wounds are happening, it's on the coaching staff. It's on myself. It's on the position coaches,” he said. “So, we have to figure that out. We got to figure out our consistency level.”

He expressed frustration that “too much hard work put in on all facets” during the week is not showing up on Saturdays.

“I thought we were checking these boxes, but we checked the boxes and then we uncheck them,” he said.

Kent State registered its safety after driving 77 yards in 14 plays but turned the ball over on downs at the 3. USF’s possession began and ended when Dion'Dre Taylor tackled D.J. Crowther in the end zone.

Then came the scoop and score by Hicks after Kent State quarterback Dru DeShields mishandled the snap on a sneak attempt on third-and-goal from inside the 1.

A play earlier, DeShields appeared to score from the 3, but the officials ruled his forward progress had been stopped before crossing the goal line. Kent State had taken over at midfield on USF’s free kick and marched 47 yards.

Hicks said his touchdown flipped the game’s momentum for both sides of the ball.

“On defense, when our numbers are called, we’ve got to stand up,” he said.

The offensive touchdowns came in the second half as the Bulls took control.

Backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek scored on a 1-yard plunge to cap a 15-play, 73-yard drive, and Cameron Seldon's 36-yard touchdown reception from Michael Van Buren Jr. ended a five-play, 65-yard drive.

“A heck of an effort by these guys grinding in the second half,” Hartline said. “But it's just disappointing that we didn't maximize the day. Every day you go out there, your career is on the line, the season on the line. You want to maximize every day in practice and on game day, and we didn't maximize the day. That's why I'm frustrated.”

Kent State had 31 yards of offense in the second half and gave up the ball on downs three more times. The Golden Flashes were ranked in the bottom 15 in FBS offensively in total yards, rushing, passing and scoring.

An announced crowd of 31,384 attended to conclude USF's homecoming week at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

South Florida has a bye next weekend and plays again Oct. 31 against Alabama-Birmingham at home.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.