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ORLANDO, FL — Under surprisingly warm skies at Camping World Stadium, the Old Dominion Monarchs (10-3) secured their first 10-win season in program history with a gritty 24-10 victory over the South Florida Bulls (9-4) in the 2025 StaffDNA Cure Bowl.
The game was a defensive battle defined by a second-half surge from the Monarchs and a series of self-inflicted wounds for a Bulls team undergoing a massive transition.
A Program in Transition
The Bulls took the field looking vastly different than the squad that surged through the regular season.
- Coaching Carousel: Following the regular season, head coach Alex Golesh departed for the Auburn Tigers. Defensive line coach Kevin Patrick served as the interim lead, while new hire Brian Hartline watched from the wings before officially taking over.
- Quarterback Shift: Star QB Byrum Brown did not suit up, reportedly preparing for the NFL Draft. In his place, senior Gaston Moore made his first collegiate start, while the Monarchs turned to redshirt freshman Quinn Henicle.
The night also carried emotional weight for the Bulls’ broadcast booth, as “The Voice of the Bulls,” Jim Louk, called his final football game after a legendary 43-year career.
First Half: Defensive Chess Match
USF struck first following a defensive highlight. A strip-sack by Jarvis Lee was recovered and returned 22 yards by Fred Gaskin, setting up a 28-yard field goal by Nico Gramatica for an early 3-0 lead.
Old Dominion responded late in the first quarter when Quinn Henicle found a lane for a six-yard touchdown run to make it 7-3. The Bulls reclaimed the lead in the second quarter when Moore found Jeremiah Koger for a 31-yard touchdown pass. However, a botched snap on a Monarchs field goal attempt kept the score 10-7 in favor of USF at the half.
The Second Half: Monarchs Take Control
The momentum shifted permanently in the third quarter when ODU’s Jerome Carter intercepted Moore and returned it 26 yards to the USF 25. Trequan Jones capitalized on the short field with a 22-yard touchdown dash up the middle, giving the Monarchs a 14-10 lead they would never relinquish.
The game grew increasingly physical and “chippy,” resulting in the ejection of USF’s De’Shawn Rucker for a targeting hit on Henicle. ODU added a field goal to extend the lead to 17-10 heading into the final frame.
The Final Dagger
In a desperate attempt to spark the offense with under six minutes remaining, the Bulls attempted a fake punt from their own territory. The pass was intercepted by Old Dominion, effectively ending the Bulls’ hopes. Three plays later, Quinn Henicle sealed the victory with a 51-yard touchdown sprint, sending many frustrated USF fans to the exits early.
- The Ground Game: ODU dominated the trenches, outrushing the Bulls 255 to 52.
- Turnover Trouble: The Bulls were plagued by five turnovers (four interceptions and a fumbled punt), compared to just one for the Monarchs.
While the loss was an embarrassing finish to a promising season for USF, the win marks a milestone for Old Dominion head coach Ricky Rahne, who secured his first bowl victory and a historic double-digit win season for the Monarchs.
What are your thoughts on the 2025 Cure Bowl? Leave a comment below.
For all your NCAA bowl coverage, log on to ngscsports.com.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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