SouthFloridaDefeatsTexasTech38to34in12thAnnualBirminghamBowl
BIRMINGHAM,Ala.—BIRMINGHAM,Ala.--QuintonFlowersdiditagainattheBirminghamBowl,launchinganotherwinningtouchdownthrowwithagameagainstaPower5teamontheline.
Flowersthrewa26-yardtouchdownpasstoTyreMcCantswith16secondslefttogiveNo.23SouthFloridaa38-34victoryoverTexasTechintheBirminghamBowlonSaturday.
FlowersledtheBulls(10-2)toasecondstraightdramaticvictoryinthebowlgameatLegionField,throwingforapairoftouchdownsinthefinal4:26afterstrugglinginthefirsthalf.
"Iwastellingmyself,I'vegottohitmyguysinthechest,"Flowerssaid."I'vegottoputtheballintheirchestandjustgivethemachance.IjustwentoutthereandmycoachcalledtheplaythatIwantedandthankGodTyredidwhathewassupposedtodoandIdidwhatIwassupposedtodoandwecameoutwiththevictory."
TheBulls,whoare21-4thepasttwoseasons,wonlastyear'sBirminghamBowlonFlowers'25-yardtouchdownpassinovertimeagainstSouthCarolina.
TheRedRaiders(6-7)hadtakentheleadbackwithNicShimonek's25-yardtouchdownpasstoawide-openT.J.Vasherintheendzonewith1:31remaining.ThatleftFlowerswithplentyoftimetowork,itturnsout.
Heran13and21yardsforfirstdowns,thelattercomingonathird-and-10play.ThenhefoundMcCantsontheirsecondscoringconnection.
Theseniorpassedfor311yardsandfourtouchdowns.Healsoran14timesfor106yardsandafifthscore.MarquezValdes-Scantlinggained133yardsonthreecatches.
ShimonektookTexasTechacrossmidfieldinthefinalsecondsbuthisdesperationpassontherunwascompletedwellshortoftheendzone.
Shimonek,whohadledafourth-quartercomebackintheregular-seasonfinaleagainstTexas,completed32of59passesfor416yards.ThistimetheRedRaiderscouldn'tsealthedeal.
"That'sreallyexactlywhatwasgoingthroughmymind,"Shimoneksaid."Itwasalmostthesameexacttypescenario(asTexas)."
Hethrewforthreetouchdownsandwasinterceptedtwiceondeflectedballs.
KekeCouteehad11catchesfor187yardsandatouchdownwhileJustinStocktonranfor103yards.
TheRedRaiderssetuptwotouchdownsinthethirdquarterofffumblerecoveries,takinga24-17lead.Thedefensehelpedpreservetheleadwithapairoffourthdownstops,includingagoallinestand.QuentinYontzstuffedDariusTicefrominsidethe1earlyinthefourth,butFlowerswoundupgettingtheballbackacrossmidfield.
Hecashedinthistimewitha5-yardtouchdownruntotieitwith9:30left.
"Defensively,itwasstopafterstopthatwehadtogoget,"first-yearSouthFloridacoachCharlieStrongsaid. "Andevenforouroffense,theyhadtwoturnoversandthentheyhadtwobigfourth-downstopsandouroffensejustcontinuedtoplay."
THETAKEAWAY
TexasTech:TheRedRaiderscouldn'ttranslatea249-130edgeinfirst-halfyardsintoanadvantageonthescoreboard.Theyconverted10of19thirddowns.
SouthFlorida:Flowershadaterrificsecondhalfaftergoing4-of-14passingfor52yardsinthefirst.Heconcludeditona21-yardtouchdownpasstoMcCantswith51secondslefttotieit,10-all....DefensivetackleDeadrinSenathadthreefirst-halfsacksforSouthFlorida,matchinghisseasontotalcomingintothebowl.
FLOWERSRECORDS
FlowersbecametheAmericanAthleticConference'scareerleaderintotaloffensewitha21-yardtouchdownpasslateinthefirsthalf.Hebrokethemarkof11,431yardsheldbyTemple'sPhillipWalker.Flowersalsosetschoolrecordsforcareertouchdownpassesandrushingyards,finishingwith34schoolorconferencemarks.
PENALTIESGALORE:Bothteamswerepenalized10times,withTexasTechflaggedfor107yardsandSouthFloridafor100.
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TexasTech:ShimonekandleadingrusherStocktonareseniors,whileallbuttwodefensivestartershaveeligibilityremaining.Couteeisajuniorwhosaidhehasn'tmadeadecisiononwhethertoentertheNFLdraft.
SouthFlorida:TheBullsmustreplaceFlowers,plusleadingreceiverValdes-ScantlingandtailbackD'ErnestJohnsononoffenseandeightstartersondefense.LeadingtacklerAuggieSanchezleavesabigholetofill.