By the time the first quarter ended Saturday at Raymond James Stadium, South Florida's football team trailed UAB by 10 points and was probably lucky it wasn't worse.
That was then.
By the time the other three quarters had ended, the Bulls had a 30-10 victory that moved them to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the American Conference. It also made them bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive season, but no one was really talking about that.
Instead, the headlines go to a suffocating defense that, for the second straight game, outscored the opposing team's offense. Asani Redwood and Grayson Howard had fumble returns for touchdowns and USF unloaded six sacks on the visitors, including four by C.J. Hicks that tied a single-game record for the Bulls.
But there was another player on the offensive side for the Bulls. Backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek came off the bench early in the second quarter after starter Michael Van Buren, Jr. was injured and did not return. He was hit near the head on a tackle and officials checked for targeting, but declined to throw a flag.
Kromenhoek, seeing his first extended action of the season, was ready for his close-up.
He finished with a team-high 92 yards rushing yards. The Bulls trailed l0-0 when he entered but quickly took control of the game. That wasn't all on Kromenhoek, of course - as we mentioned, the defense was all over the place. But Kromenhoek answered the challenge when the Bulls needed him the most.
He finished second in a close competition to Van Buren, Jr. in training camp to become the starting quarterback, but he handled it like a pro.
"He very supportive of Mike. You know, they always say they're best friends, they're always together, hanging out together. They're always supporting each other. So we're very blessed to have the right kind of young men in that room," Hartline said.
"Again, it came down to a real competition because they both have done a really good job. And so for Luke to step in there, I'm just really happy for Luke that we're going to try to find more ways to throw the ball."
Hartline said they would know more about Van Buren, Jr.'s status in the coming days.
Meanwhile, back on defense, this type of performance is becoming the norm for the Bulls. They entered with the top scoring defense in the conference and nothing happened Saturday to change that. Hicks, in particular, played like the 5-star product he was reputed to be coming out of high school before he signed with Ohio State.
His four sacks Saturday eclipsed his CAREER total of three,
"C.J. getting to the quarterback was a big part of (the defensive success) .... (But) tt's never a one-man show," Hartline said.
Indeed, the Bulls' secondary blanked UAB's receivers, forcing Blazers' quarterback Ryder Burton to hold onto the ball longer than he wanted to.
The Bulls have another short week before they go to East Carolina on Friday. That's never easy, but the way the defense is playing - and with the understanding that Kromenhoek is no ordinary "backup" - there is a lot of reason for optimism.
"Hats off to Luke and to the man he is, how he operates and stay to the grind," Hartline said. "Good things will find your way."
This article was originally published on www.greengoldandbold.com as USF gets defensive in cruising to a 30-10 American Conference blowout of UAB .
