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USF Football: 3 takeaways from Bulls’ win over Temple

By Connor Muldowney

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 21: Quarterback Quinton Flowers #9 of the South Florida Bulls celebrates with tight end Mitchell Wilcox #89 after rushing 22 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against the Temple Owls on September 21, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 21: Quarterback Quinton Flowers #9 of the South Florida Bulls celebrates with tight end Mitchell Wilcox #89 after rushing 22 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against the Temple Owls on September 21, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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After a fourth win on the year, this time against Temple, USF football is looking like the strongest Group of Five team in the country.

It’s been a strong start to the season for USF football as the Bulls came away with their fourth straight win to start the year, beating Temple 43-7 on Thursday night. South Florida took a complete team effort to beat the Owls and did so even without a strong performance from Quinton Flowers.

Charlie Strong is now off to a 4-0 start to his USF coaching career and the Bulls look stronger by the week. The former Texas coach does need to figure out a way to get his starting quarterback some confidence heading into the heart of conference play.

Here are three takeaways from the South Florida win over Temple.

3. Darius Tice is severely underrated

If you haven’t heard the name Darius Tice yet, get to know it. South Florida has a heck of a one-two punch in the backfield with Tice and D’Ernest Johnson — both seniors. Many people believe the offense is just Quinton Flowers and 10 other guys, but that’s far from the case.

The running backs have been solid this season, but Johnson was expected to be the starter. For yet another game, though, Tice has been the star. On Thursday, against a Temple defense that was one of the best in college football in 2016, Tice put up 117 yards and two touchdowns.

On the season, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound pinball of a running back has rushed for 373 yards and six touchdowns this season. He has flown under the radar despite picking up his second straight 100-yard rushing game and has had at least 90 yards rushing in three of his first four games,

Moving forward, opponents will need to focus on stopping the two-headed monster in the backfield and potential the most underrated rusher in the AAC.

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