College football

Bulls hurt most as pain hits O-line

By GREG AUMAN
Published November 27, 2005

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Much of USF's offensive struggles started on the final play of the opening drive, when senior center John Miller injured his right arm blocking on an option run.

Miller returned two possessions later, but lined up at right guard, unable to snap the ball. The Bulls shifted senior guard Chris Carothers to center, his first action at that position, and that factored in two costly plays in Saturday's 15-10 loss.

"That was tough on us the whole game, having a different guy there, and he wasn't used to all the reps," coach Jim Leavitt said.

The first came on Carothers' second drive at center, when quarterback Pat Julmiste was sacked for a 13-yard loss to set up third down on the USF 5-yard line. Carothers' snap sailed high, Julmiste tipped it and recovered but was tackled for a safety, giving Connecticut a 9-0 lead.

Trailing by five points in the fourth quarter, the Bulls had third and goal on the Huskies 1 when they elected to quick-snap the ball for a quarterback keeper. Carothers was called for a false start, backing USF up to the 6, where the Bulls went for it and failed on a botched reverse pass.

"Maybe we shouldn't have run it quick like that, but it's been a good play for us all year," Leavitt said. "We've scored on that play a lot, and that's the reason we went with it."

Carothers wasn't the only Bulls lineman at an unfamiliar position. Left tackle Thed Watson couldn't start because of an ankle injury, so USF shifted left guard Frank Davis for his first start at left tackle, giving redshirt freshman Matt Huners his first start at left guard. When Carothers moved to center, the Bulls shifted right tackle Walter Walker to right guard, with redshirt freshman Marc Dile taking over at tackle.

And Clearwater's Nick Capogna , a center who normally wears No.69, wore 44 and saw his first action at tight end.

Watson returned in the second half at right tackle.

FLAGS FLYING: The Bulls had eight penalties for 62 yards, and the timing of the flags was especially costly, none more than the ones that negated a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jackie Chambers in the fourth quarter. A flag for an ineligible receiver downfield was declined, but only because Davis was called for holding.

THIS AND THAT: Redshirt freshman Josh Julmiste had his first start at left defensive end. ... The last time the Bulls gave up a safety was also against Connecticut, in October 2001. ... Darius Butler 's 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the first such score allowed by USF since Nov.2, 2002, against Charleston Southern.

[Last modified November 27, 2005, 01:18:21]