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Ponton, ground attack lead South Florida to victory

Oct 14, 2006 - 10:20 PM CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Ricky Ponton rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries as South Florida posted a 37-20 non-conference victory over North Carolina.

Ponton led a ground attack that collected 234 yards and four TDs for South Florida, which recorded its first win vs. an Atlantic Coast Conference school.

Matt Grothe completed 14-of-21 attempts for 158 yards and a touchdown, a 21-yard pass to S.J. Green that gave the Bulls the lead for good, 14-7, with 12:03 to play in the second quarter.

Ponton's one-yard run three minutes later gave the visitors a two-TD advantage, and his two-yard burst with just under five minutes left in the third period gave the Bulls a 34-13 cushion.

South Florida (5-2) outgained North Carolina, 417-285, en route to matching its best seven-game start in school history. The Bulls also started 5-2 in 1998 and 2002.

Cam Sexton went 9-of-26 for just 117 yards and a touchdown for the Tar Heels (1-5), who have lost three straight games for the first time since 2003. He was sacked five times and intercepted twice.