Flowers throws 2 TDs as USF holds off Tulsa
TAMPA, FLA. — No. 23 South Florida can finally look ahead to a muchanticipated showdown with No. 14 Central Florida.
Quinton Flowers threw two touchdown passes and the Bulls remained in contention for a berth in the American Athletic Conference championship game by holding off Tulsa 27-20 late Thursday night.
Flowers, one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks, ran for 119 yards while also throwing for 142 to send USF (9-1, 6-1) into next week's regular-season finale against unbeaten Central Florida with the league's East Division title on the line.
"We've got one more," coach Charlie Strong said. "Our guys understand what's stake."
Coming off a bye, Strong cautioned his players about not looking past Tulsa (2-9, 1-6), which has lost four straight since beating Houston, the only team that's beaten USF.
"Everybody thinks because of their record that they're not very good," Strong said. "They beat Houston and Houston beat us. ... You have to give them some credit."
Flowers and USF's highpowered offense weren't as sharp as usual, however first-quarter TD throws of 25 yards to Tyre McCants and 35 yards to Darnell Salomon helped USF to an early 21-7 lead.
Luke Skipper scored on runs on first-half runs of 12 and 9 yards for Tulsa (2-9, 1-6), which blocked a punt to set up a 38-yard field goal that trimmed a 10-point deficit to 27-20 with 4:18 remaining.
The Golden Hurricane got the ball one more time, with backup quarterback Chad President — filling in for Skipper, who left in the second half with a possible concussion — leading a drive from his own 25 to the USF 30 before turning the ball over on downs.