Cougars come up short in 27-23 loss to USF

TAMPA, Fla. – BYU football came up short in the final minutes of the 27-23 loss to South Florida on Saturday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium.

Postgame Notes
Box Score
Photo Gallery

Down four with just over a minute to go in the fourth quarter, BYU got the ball on their own 26-yard line. Quarterback Baylor Romney, in for an injured Jaren Hall, took control of the BYU offense and moved the Cougars down the field.  A 22-yard pass to Gunner Romney and a 17-yard pass to Talon Shumway moved BYU to USF’s 27-yard line.

A pass interference call on the Bulls moved the chains and put BYU on the USF 12-yard line. However, two incomplete passes and a sack pushed BYU back to the 20 yard-line on fourth down with four seconds left on the clock.

In the final play of the game, Romney threw the ball into a crowded end zone and two Bull’s players were able to bat the ball away from BYU’s receivers, ending the game 27-23. 

In his first career start at quarterback, Hall went 15 for 23 with 148 yards and a touchdown while also being BYU’s leading rusher with 16 carries for 83 yards and one touchdown. Matt Bushman led all receivers with five catches for 44 yards.

The Cougars out gained USF in total offense with 439 yard to 315. BYU also won the turnover battle with two takeaways, including a fumble recovery by Isaiah Kaufusi and an interception by Chaz Ah You.

First Half Summary

On the first drive of the game, BYU got points on the board as Jake Oldroyd connected on a 51-yard field goal to put BYU up 3-0 early in the game.

A 35-yard, one handed catch from Hall to Dax Milne in the end zone, opened up the second quarter for the Cougars, giving BYU a 10-0 edge. 

With five straight rushing plays, BYU picked up 48 yards to get to the USF 5-yard line. Unable to get into the end zone, the Cougars added a 22-yard field goal to bring the score to 13-0.  But, the Bulls were still in the game as USF’s quarterback found a wide open tight end in the end zone to cut BYU’s lead to 13-7 with six minutes left in the half.

BYU tacked on another field goal, this time a 28 yarder to cushion the Cougars lead at 16-7 going into halftime.

First Half Review

• Jake Oldroyd made his second 50+ field goal of the season
• Isaiah Kaufusi recorded his first career fumble recovery
• Jaren Hall recorded his first career passing touchdown to Dax Milne for 35 yards

Second Half Review

Coming out of halftime, the Bulls moved the ball down the field finishing with a one yard rushing touchdown to bring the game within two points at 16-14. But, BYU answered back as Hall ran the 29-yards to the end zone to increase BYU’s lead to 23-14

On the first play of the fourth quarter, USF rushed two yards into the end zone to again bring the game within two points with a score of 23-21.  On their next drive, the Bulls took their first lead of the game getting into the end zone again. But, a two-point conversion was called back for a penalty and USF then opted for a PAT which missed wide right making the score 27-23.

Quarterback Baylor Romney led the last two drives with Hall out but the offense came up empty. In the final moments of the game, BYU was unable to connect with a receiver in the end zone and USF took the win 27-23.

Second Half Review

• Jaren Hall ran the ball 29 yards into the end zone for his first career rushing touchdown
• Chaz Ah You grabbed his first career interception in the third quarter and returned it 14 yards
• Baylor Romney went 6 of 10 in relief of Hall for 73 yards. 

After two weeks on the road, BYU returns to LaVell Edwards for homecoming against Boise State on Saturday, October 19. Kickoff is slated 8:15 p.m. MDT, broadcast on ESPN2 and radio coverage on BYU Radio Sirius XM 143/89.1 FM and KSL 1160 AM/102.7.