South Florida Rides Two Fumble-Return Touchdowns and C.J. Hicks' Record Four Sacks to a 30-10 Win Over UAB
Down 10-0 in Tampa, the Bulls scored the game's final 30 points, turned two Hicks-forced fumbles into defensive touchdowns, held UAB to 17 rushing yards — and became bowl-eligible for the fourth straight season.
South Florida's defense won its Saturday. The Bulls beat UAB 30-10 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, scoring the game's final 30 points after falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, according to USF's official report and the Associated Press account of the game. The win lifts South Florida to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the American Conference, and makes the Bulls bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season.
Defensive end C.J. Hicks set the program record with four sacks, and two of his forced fumbles became touchdowns: Asani Redwood returned one 6 yards for a score that put USF ahead 17-10 at halftime, and Grayson Howard returned another 13 yards for a touchdown and a 27-10 lead. Nico Gramatica added three field goals, the last a 33-yarder. UAB (4-4, 2-2) was held to a season-low 17 rushing yards, 10 first downs and 177 total yards, and was shut out after its first two possessions — Roderick Robinson's 5-yard touchdown run and Jonah Delange's 30-yard field goal.
The Bulls lost starting quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. to injury along the way, and Luke Kromenhoek stepped in and led the team with 92 rushing yards, converting his first two possessions under center into points on the way to the 17-10 halftime lead, USF reported. South Florida, 17-5 at home over the last four seasons, now goes on the road for two midweek primetime games, starting at East Carolina on Friday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m.
