These South Florida boys sure do know how to work some drama into their fans' lives. Last week, they blew a two touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, but managed to get the game into overtime and take home the win against Central Florida.
This week, it was Maikon Bonani's turn to create all the drama any one person could handle for this week in their matchup against No. 13 Kansas, and certainly more than he may want ever again this season.
It started out going anything but right for the Bulls, as the Jayhawks outgained them 123-43 in the first quarter - and half of those yards for South Florida came on the last two plays of the quarter.
That last bit of yardage got them into field goal range, but Bonani's kick wasn't remotely close, and USF's first strong offensive drive was a waste.
Before they knew it, the Bulls were trailing Kansas 20-3 with just under six minutes remaining in the half. They scored to cut the deficit to 10 heading into the locker room, but there was still a lot of work to do.
Whatever head coach Jim Leavitt said in the locker room must have helped, because South Florida shut Kansas down completely to open the half and then drove to the Kansas five yard line before settling for another field goal to make the score 20-13.
All of a sudden the Bulls had a full head of steam, and by the time a minute had passed in the fourth quarter, they had jumped all the way out to a 34-20 lead. They may have gotten a bit too sure a bit too early, though, because they gave Kansas another chance.
Kansas took the ball on the next possession and charged right down the field, as QB Todd Reesing picked apart South Florida's pass defense to the tune of 12 of 15 for 135 yards and two touchdowns on the next two drives, and with 5:40 remaining, Kansas had come all the way back to a 34-34 tie.
South Florida sputtered, and Kansas took over on their own seven yard line with just under two minutes remaining, their primary goal being to make sure they at least made it to overtime.
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