South Florida wins ninth in row
Darius Tice rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns and No. 21 South Florida dominated defending American Athletic Conference champion Temple 43-7 on Thursday night in Tampa, Fla., for its schoolrecord ninth consecutive victory.
The Bulls (4-0) have not lost since falling by 16 points to Temple last October in Philadelphia — a setback that wound up costing them a berth in the AAC championship game.
Tice scored on runs of 47 and three yards. Quinton Flowers, who accounted for 386 yards and five touchdowns in a 24-point win over Illinois last week, also ran for two touchdowns to take sole possession of first place on the Bulls’ career rushing touchdown list with 34.
South Florida’s defense forced six turnovers, including the first three interceptions of the season thrown by Temple’s Logan Marchi.
“When you play with passion and enthusiasm, that’s the kind of performance you’ll get,” Bulls coach Charlie Strong said.
The Owls (2-2) were held to minus-four yards rushing and were outgained 408 yards to 85. Marchi threw for 767 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in his first three starts for Temple, but was just three-for-13 passing for 32 yards on Thursday.
Defensive end Jacob Martin scored Temple’s only touchdown, sacking Flowers and forcing a fumble that the defensive end returned 44 yards in the second quarter.
Clemson loses starting kicker
No. 2 Clemson lost its kicker for the season after he was injured on the last play of practice.
Coach Dabo Swinney said a defensive lineman rolled into Greg Huegel’s leg Wednesday after he kicked during a two-minute drill. Swinney said the junior walked off the field, but tests Thursday showed he tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
Huegel has started all three seasons with the Tigers, making 78% of his 55 field-goal attempts.
Swinney said junior Alex Spence will be the kicker Saturday against Boston College. Spence’s only kicks in his career have been two extra points.
Swinney said Spence made a 51-yard field goal in a scrimmage in August.
Old Dominion turns to freshman at QB
Old Dominion coach Bobby Wilder was looking to spark his anemic offense when he turned to 17-yearold freshman Steven Williams Jr. during last weekend's game against North Carolina.
What he found was his new starting quarterback.
Williams directed three scoring drives, one on a beautifully thrown 71-yard scoring pass, and had a 19yard scramble in the Monarchs’ 53-23 loss.
That earned him his first start for the Monarchs (2-1) on Saturday at No. 13 Virginia Tech.
“When I decided to make the change right before halftime, it was because we didn’t have any energy,” Wilder said, having tried both Jordan Hoy and Blake LaRussa at quarterback this year before turning to Williams.
The Monarchs trailed 39-7 and their only points had come on Isaiah Harper’s 100-yard kickoff return.