TAMPA - It has been a long time coming, since 1998 to be exact, but he finally got one.
Elgin Hicks scored a touchdown Saturday. Actually, he scored two.
Hicks, a fifth-year senior receiver, was a high school All-American who compiled astronomical statistics at Punta Gorda Charlotte. His 32-yard, over-the-shoulder scoring grab in the second quarter of USF's 27-17 win, however, was the first time he found the end zone in college.
Hicks was a blue-chip recruit who initially attended Florida as part of a recruiting class that included future stars Jabar Gaffney and Taylor Jacobs. He redshirted as a freshman and transferred in part to be closer to his 5-year-old son, D'Andre.
After a series of injuries and illnesses, he earned his first significant playing time last season, catching 21 passes for 250 yards. Hicks had four receptions Aug.30 at Alabama. Early in the second quarter Saturday, Hicks ran a post pattern and corraled Ronnie Banks' pass while sliding to his knees in the back of the end zone to tie at 7.
Early in the fourth quarter Hicks caught a 67-yard touchdown from Banks to put the Bulls up 27-17.
NOT QUITE: After Hicks' score, the Bulls tried an onside kick. Santiago Gramatica chipped the ball to his left, over the first wave of defenders, but it went out of bounds.
LOCAL STAR: Pasco High graduate Joe Bain doubled his career reception total in the first half. The sophomore, who caught one pass last season, caught two for 32 yards in the first half.
A GRAND: Huey Whittaker's 25-yard touchdown catch with eight seconds left in the first half brought USF within 17-14 and made Whittaker, a senior from Springstead High, the sixth USF player to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards.
FOR STARTERS: Redshirt freshman Stephen Nicholas earned his first career start, getting the nod at weakside linebacker ahead of sophomore Devon Davis, and he registered his first career sack in the first quarter. Frank Davis started at left guard in place of Shelly Houston.
The Bulls opened with three down lineman and an extra defensive back, Johnnie Jones. They alternated starter Lee Roy Selmon Jr. and Craig Kobel at nose tackle in the three-lineman formation.
HENRI WHO?: Concerns about Tropical Storm Henri proved unnecessary as the weather was gorgeous for much of Saturday afternoon and at kickoff.
CONTAINED: NSU defensive end Michael Young set an NCAA record for all divisions with six sacks Aug.30 in a 70-0 win over Bethel (Tenn.) College, an NAIA school. Saturday he had none in the first half.
ET CETERA: Senior receiver Chris Iskra missed his second straight game with a dislocated elbow. ... Senior tight end Casey Cobb, who had four catches before this season, had two for 53 yards against Alabama, including a 40-yarder, and caught a 7-yard pass in the first quarter. ... USF does not play again until its Conference USA debut Sept.27 at Army. ... The flag at the center of the Raymond James Stadium field, usually colored with the Buccaneers' scheme, was painted white with the new USF logo in the center.
