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The South Florida Bulls pulled off a thrilling 28-24 comeback victory over Army on Saturday. USF entered Michie Stadium looking for its first road win of the season. Instead, the Bulls delivered one of the wildest finishes of the young season. The victory also gave Brian Hartline his first American Athletic Conference win. More importantly, USF improved to 2-0 on the season. However, the Bulls needed a furious fourth-quarter rally to get there.
USF also looked sharp while doing it. The Bulls wore an all-white uniform combination that stood out at Michie Stadium. The white helmets featured the revived “Gold Standard” Bull U logo. The updated design includes an outline and flakes across the gold logo. The reflective gold logo gave the helmets a unique look. A metallic gold facemask completed the special combination. USF brought plenty of style to West Point. More importantly, the Bulls eventually brought plenty of fight.
USF Starts Fast
The Bulls opened the game with confidence on offense. Michael Van Buren Jr. connected with Brandon Rodgers for a seven-yard touchdown. Nico Gramatica added the extra point. That gave USF a 7-0 lead with 11 minutes left in the first quarter. Army eventually found its rhythm, though. The Black Knights scored twice during the second quarter. Cale Hellums connected with Zach Mundell for a 24-yard touchdown. Then, Army scored again with only 13 seconds remaining before halftime. Hellums found Kanye Nwawuihe for a four-yard touchdown. That gave Army a 14-7 halftime advantage. USF struggled to generate consistent offensive momentum during that stretch. Army also controlled the clock with its physical rushing attack. Still, the Bulls remained within striking distance.
Van Buren Gives USF Life
USF needed an answer after halftime. Van Buren provided it with his legs. The Bulls quarterback broke loose for an 18-yard touchdown run during the third quarter. Gramatica added the extra point. That score tied the game at 14-14. The touchdown changed the game’s momentum. Suddenly, USF looked capable of making Army uncomfortable. The Bulls defense continued battling against Army’s option-heavy rushing attack. Army eventually regained the lead during the fourth quarter. The Black Knights kicked a 27-yard field goal with 14:05 remaining. Army then extended its advantage with another touchdown. Gavin Nwawuihe scored on a 10-yard run with 4:59 remaining. That pushed Army’s lead to 24-14. At that point, USF faced a major problem. The Bulls needed two scores in less than five minutes.
The Fourth-Quarter Miracle
Van Buren and the Bulls offense refused to fold. USF quickly marched 75 yards in just 1:47. Van Buren finished the drive himself with a 24-yard touchdown run. Gramatica’s extra point cut Army’s lead to 24-21. USF still needed another stop. The defense delivered. Army punted with 1:46 remaining. That gave the Bulls one final opportunity. Van Buren immediately went to work. He connected with several receivers during the decisive drive. Bryan Rodgers made multiple important catches during the possession. Then came the play USF fans will remember. Facing fourth-and-six from the Army 38-yard line, Van Buren dropped back. He launched a deep pass toward Jaeden Porter. Porter made the catch in the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown. The score came with only 19 seconds remaining. USF suddenly led 28-24. The Bulls had completed an incredible comeback.
Van Buren Shows His Poise
Van Buren entered the game after a quiet performance against FIU. He finished that opener with 100 passing yards and no touchdowns. USF also managed only 208 total yards against FIU. Against Army, Van Buren showed a different side. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 100 yards. He also rushed seven times for seven yards. More importantly, he made his biggest plays when USF needed them most. His 18-yard touchdown run gave the Bulls life. His 24-yard touchdown run brought USF within three points. Then, his fourth-down touchdown pass sealed the comeback. That final drive showed why Hartline continues to trust his quarterback.
A Huge Win for the Bulls
USF entered the season with plenty of questions surrounding the program. Hartline took over as head coach after Alex Golesh left for Auburn. The Bulls also faced a difficult early schedule. Now, USF sits at 2-0. The Bulls already have wins over FIU and Army. They also just won at one of college football’s toughest venues. The victory should provide significant confidence heading forward. USF will return home next Saturday against Delaware State. The Bulls will look to carry the momentum from their dramatic win at Army. The uniforms looked good at West Point. The Bulls looked even better when the game mattered most. And after trailing 24-14 late in the fourth quarter, USF found a way to leave West Point with a victory.
This was a big win for the USF Bulls many thought they would get beat by Army.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida 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 host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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About the Author
[…] South Florida returns home after a dramatic conference-opening victory. The Bulls defeated Army 28-24 last Saturday. That win moved USF to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Now, the Bulls host Delaware State at Raymond James Stadium. The Hornets enter with a 2-1 record. USF should enter as the favorite, but the Bulls cannot overlook their opponent. This game gives USF a chance to build momentum. It also gives the Bulls another opportunity to improve offensively. USF has already shown resilience during the young season. A convincing win could keep the Bulls atop the American standings. […]
[…] arrives at USF with a clear opportunity to build her own identity. She has already assembled a staff featuring […]