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.

UPNEXT

TexasTech:ShimonekandleadingrusherStocktonareseniors,whileallbuttwodefensivestartershaveeligibilityremaining.Couteeisajuniorwhosaidhehasn'tmadeadecisiononwhethertoentertheNFLdraft.

SouthFlorida:TheBullsmustreplaceFlowers,plusleadingreceiverValdes-ScantlingandtailbackD'ErnestJohnsononoffenseandeightstartersondefense.LeadingtacklerAuggieSanchezleavesabigholetofill.