South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown accounted for three touchdowns, and the Bulls’ defense scored twice in the opening minutes as South Florida rolled to a 55-23 victory over UTSA on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium.
The Bulls (7-2, 4-1 American Athletic Conference) struck early and never looked back, building a 14-0 lead just eight minutes into the contest. Tavin Ward jump-started the scoring with a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown, and moments later, Fred Gaskin scooped up a fumble and raced 85 yards to the end zone.
Brown delivered another stellar performance, completing 14 of 15 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 109 yards and another score. His precision and poise fueled an offense that scored on nearly every possession in the first half.
Keshaun Singleton emerged as Brown’s top target, hauling in four receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring grabs of 16 and 40 yards in the second quarter. Running back Nykahi Davenport added balance on the ground, rushing for 94 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulls raced to a 45-10 halftime advantage.
UTSA (4-5, 2-3) struggled to recover from the early defensive lapses but found some offensive rhythm late. Quarterback Owen McCown threw for 200 yards and connected with Patrick Overmyer on a 45-yard touchdown pass in the first half. Backup Brandon Tennison added a 19-yard touchdown pass to Mekhi Anderson in the fourth quarter, while kicker Michael Petro was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts.
Despite holding the ball for just over 20 minutes, South Florida outgained UTSA 471-381, using explosive plays and defensive pressure to dominate the game’s momentum. The Bulls’ defense tallied six sacks and forced two turnovers—both converted directly into touchdowns.
With the win, South Florida remains firmly in the AAC title hunt as they prepare for a road matchup next Saturday in Annapolis against Navy. UTSA will look to bounce back when they travel to Charlotte to face the 49ers on November 15.
