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South Florida earns first bowl win

Dec 24, 2006 - 1:13 AM BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Ticker) -- South Florida earned its first bowl win against a familiar foe.

Benjamin Williams rushed for a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter and that proved to be more than enough as the Bulls posted a 24-7 victory over East Carolina in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

South Florida (9-4) left Conference USA to join the Big East but got reacquainted with a former league member for this bowl showdown. The Bulls beat the Pirates for the fourth time in as many meetings - all since the 2002 season.

South Florida made its inaugural bowl appearance last season and lost to North Carolina State, 13-0, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

"We talked about how important it was to win this game," South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said. "We felt like if we'd win today, this would be the best team in the history of the University of South Florida - which is a short history. But this was a really big win for us."

The Bulls won despite not having quarterback Matt Grothe, the Big East Freshman of the Year, for the entire second half due to an injured right shin.

South Florida didn't take long to get on the board. On the Pirates' second play from scrimmage, quarterback James Pinkney couldn't handle a low shotgun snap and Bulls middle linebacker Ben Moffitt recovered at the East Carolina 16.

On the next play, Williams scored on a draw, racing left into the end zone just 1:07 into the contest.

"They blew a hole open (on the left side) and I just hit it," said Williams, who finished with 67 yards on 17 carries. "Our linemen came out and really controlled the game after our defense set us up."

South Florida scored on its second possession as well. Williams broke off a 20-yard run and Grothe hit tight end Will Bleakley with a 13-yard pass before Williams scored on a one-yard plunge on a 4th-and-goal play with 8:43 left in the first quarter.

"They were definitely faster and more athletic than us early in the game," East Carolina coach Skip Holtz said.

Pinkney connected with Bobby Good on a 48-yard scoring play down the right sideline with 5:04 remaining in the first quarter to pull East Carolina within 14-7. On a 3rd-and-26 play, Good made a leaping catch over cornerback Trae Williams.

But the Pirates were shut down the rest of the way. Pinkney completed just 8-of-25 passes for 125 yards before being yanked in the second half for Robert Kass, who was 10-of-19 for 138 yards.

Grothe hit Amarri Jackson with a 37-yard touchdown and Delbert Alvarado kicked a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter to increase the lead to 24-7.

Grothe was 6-of-10 for 81 yards but was kicked in the shin in the second quarter and did not play in the second half.

"Our defense did it for us in the second half," Grothe said. "It was unfortunate to sit there with an injury but our defense made it fun to watch."

Pat Julmiste replaced Grothe and was 6-of-8 for 49 yards.

The Pirates drove inside the South Florida 30 five times in the second half but failed to score due to sacks, a missed field goal, a fumble and a failed 4th-and-goal.

"This was a red-zone game for us in the second half and we just didn't get it done," Holtz said. "Credit goes to their defense for making big plays."

The Bulls recorded six sacks - four against Pinkney and two against Kass, who was taken down twice after the Pirates had reached the South Florida 4.

Good had five catches for 116 yards.