Final
Grothe leads South Florida to rout of Memphis
Dec 21, 2008 - 8:38 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Matt Grothe threw three touchdown passes to lead South Florida to a 41-14 victory over Memphis on Saturday in the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl.After a disappointing season in which it lost five of its last seven games, South Florida pulled away in the second half.
The Bulls (8-5) scored on four of their first five possessions to take a 24-14 lead at the half.
"He's Matt Grothe. He is going to make plays," wide receiver Taurus Johnson said. "He's going to scramble around until someone is open, and if they're not open he'll take off running. That's what he does."
Arkelon Hall threw for one TD and ran for another for Memphis (6-7).
"You can see today why they are a BCS team and why we're not," Memphis coach Tommy West said. "The difference in speed was pretty noticeable."
The Tigers' top weapon, tailback Curtis Steele, was limited to 48 yards on 12 carries. Steele rushed for 1,175 yards in the regular season - the fourth-best one-year effort in school history.
If you would have told the Bulls that they would end their season with a bowl game in their home state, they likely would have been ecstatic. However, after a disappointing season, South Florida had to settle for a consolation prize.
At the start of the year, the Bulls (7-5) had visions of winning the Big East Conference title and earning a berth in the Orange Bowl. Those hopes ended with a three-game losing streak to Louisville, Cincinnati and Rutgers.
As disappointed as they may have been, the Bulls came out and took out their frustrations on the Tigers, racking up 496 yards of offense and shutting out the Tigers in the second half.
"We could not tackle their quarterback," West said.
Grothe completed 17-of-24 passes for 235 yards and also rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries. His 26-yard TD pass to Taurus Johnson opened the scoring and he added a 13-yard scoring strike to Ben Busbee in the second quarter and a 24-yarder to Dontavia Bogan to make 34-14 in the third quarter.
''I think when I go out there and just play football, I play well, Grothe said, "and I think the team is the same way -- when we go out and just play and not worry about what people are saying and what happened the week before.''
- ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MEMPHIS 7 7 0 0 14
SOUTH FLORIDA 14 10 10 7 41 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: SOUTH FLORIDA - TD, TAURUS JOHNSON 26 YD PASS FROM
MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI
KICK), 1:02. SOUTH FLORIDA 7-0
SOUTH FLORIDA - TD, BENJAMIN WILLIAMS 3 YD RU
Dec 20 8:03 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA MOISE PLANCHER 2 YD RUN (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 14, South Florida 41 4th - 12:40Dec 20 7:28 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA MOISE PLANCHER 2 YD RUN (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 14, South Florida 41 4th - 12:40Dec 20 7:28 PM- ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
TD SOUTH FLORIDA
MOISE PLANCHER 2 YD RUN
(MAIKON BONANI KICK)
MEMPHIS 14
SOUTH FLORIDA 41 12:40 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Memphis 14, South Florida 41 4th - 12:40Dec 20 7:28 PM - ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MEMPHIS 7 7 0 14
SOUTH FLORIDA 14 10 10 34 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: SOUTH FLORIDA - TD, TAURUS JOHNSON 26 YD PASS FROM
MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI
KICK), 1:02. SOUTH FLORIDA 7-0
SOUTH FLORIDA - TD, BENJAMIN WILLIAM
Dec 20 7:20 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA DONTAVIA BOGAN 24 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 14, South Florida 34 3rd - 1:50Dec 20 7:12 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA DONTAVIA BOGAN 24 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 14, South Florida 34 3rd - 1:50Dec 20 7:12 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA DONTAVIA BOGAN 24 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 14, South Florida 34 3rd - 1:50Dec 20 7:12 PM- ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
TD SOUTH FLORIDA
DONTAVIA BOGAN 24 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE
(MAIKON BONANI KICK)
MEMPHIS 14
SOUTH FLORIDA 34 1:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Memphis 14, South Florida 34 3rd - 1:50Dec 20 7:12 PM - ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
FG SOUTH FLORIDA
MAIKON BONANI 37 YD
MEMPHIS 14
SOUTH FLORIDA 27 8:36 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Memphis 14, South Florida 27 3rd - 8:36Dec 20 6:54 PM - ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MEMPHIS 7 7 14
SOUTH FLORIDA 14 10 24 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: SOUTH FLORIDA - TD, TAURUS JOHNSON 26 YD PASS FROM
MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI
KICK), 1:02. SOUTH FLORIDA 7-0
SOUTH FLORIDA - TD, BENJAMIN WILLIAMS 3
Dec 20 6:18 PM
TD MEMPHIS DUKE CALHOUN 2 YD PASS FROM ARKELON HALL (MATT REAGAN KICK)
Memphis 14, South Florida 24 2nd - 0:08Dec 20 6:16 PM
TD MEMPHIS DUKE CALHOUN 2 YD PASS FROM ARKELON HALL (MATT REAGAN KICK)
Memphis 14, South Florida 24 2nd - 0:08Dec 20 6:16 PM
TD MEMPHIS DUKE CALHOUN 2 YD PASS FROM ARKELON HALL (MATT REAGAN KICK)
Memphis 14, South Florida 24 2nd - 0:08Dec 20 6:16 PM- ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
TD MEMPHIS
DUKE CALHOUN 2 YD PASS FROM ARKELON HALL
(MATT REAGAN KICK)
MEMPHIS 14
SOUTH FLORIDA 24 0:08 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Memphis 14, South Florida 24 2nd - 0:08Dec 20 6:16 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA BEN BUSBEE 13 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 7, South Florida 24 2nd - 4:15Dec 20 5:58 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA BEN BUSBEE 13 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 7, South Florida 24 2nd - 4:15Dec 20 5:58 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA BEN BUSBEE 13 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 7, South Florida 24 2nd - 4:15Dec 20 5:58 PM- ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
TD SOUTH FLORIDA
BEN BUSBEE 13 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE
(MAIKON BONANI KICK)
MEMPHIS 7
SOUTH FLORIDA 24 4:15 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Memphis 7, South Florida 24 2nd - 4:15Dec 20 5:58 PM - ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
FG SOUTH FLORIDA
MAIKON BONANI 23 YD
MEMPHIS 7
SOUTH FLORIDA 17 11:18 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Memphis 7, South Florida 17 2nd - 11:18Dec 20 5:35 PM - ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MEMPHIS 7 7
SOUTH FLORIDA 14 14 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: SOUTH FLORIDA - TD, TAURUS JOHNSON 26 YD PASS FROM
MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI
KICK), 1:02. SOUTH FLORIDA 7-0
SOUTH FLORIDA - TD, BENJAMIN WILLIAM
Dec 20 5:22 PM
TD MEMPHIS ARKELON HALL 3 YD RUN (MATT REAGAN KICK)
Memphis 7, South Florida 14 1st - 2:09Dec 20 5:18 PM
TD MEMPHIS ARKELON HALL 3 YD RUN (MATT REAGAN KICK)
Memphis 7, South Florida 14 1st - 2:09Dec 20 5:18 PM- ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
TD MEMPHIS
ARKELON HALL 3 YD RUN
(MATT REAGAN KICK)
MEMPHIS 7
SOUTH FLORIDA 14 2:09 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Memphis 7, South Florida 14 1st - 2:09Dec 20 5:18 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA BENJAMIN WILLIAMS 3 YD RUN (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 0, South Florida 14 1st - 4:28Dec 20 5:11 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA BENJAMIN WILLIAMS 3 YD RUN (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 0, South Florida 14 1st - 4:28Dec 20 5:11 PM- ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
TD SOUTH FLORIDA
BENJAMIN WILLIAMS 3 YD RUN
(MAIKON BONANI KICK)
MEMPHIS 0
SOUTH FLORIDA 14 4:28 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Memphis 0, South Florida 14 1st - 4:28Dec 20 5:11 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA TAURUS JOHNSON 26 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 0, South Florida 7 1st - 13:58Dec 20 4:43 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA TAURUS JOHNSON 26 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 0, South Florida 7 1st - 13:58Dec 20 4:43 PM
TD SOUTH FLORIDA TAURUS JOHNSON 26 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE (MAIKON BONANI KICK)
Memphis 0, South Florida 7 1st - 13:58Dec 20 4:43 PM- ST PETERSBURG BOWL
AT ST PETERSBURG FL
NCAAF ST PETERSBURG BOWL
TD SOUTH FLORIDA
TAURUS JOHNSON 26 YD PASS FROM MATT GROTHE
(MAIKON BONANI KICK)
MEMPHIS 0
SOUTH FLORIDA 7 13:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Memphis 0, South Florida 7 1st - 13:58Dec 20 4:43 PM
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