Second Quarter Live Blog: USF @ Rutgers

USF @ Rutgers | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr

Welcome back!

USF leads Rutgers 10-3 in a well-played game so far. The energy is good and each team has made a few plays.

Live Blog after the jump . . .

8:36 - Ray Rice is hittin' people! Right up the middle, too. Next play USF answers deep in its own zone. This is a fantastic back-and-forth between the teams so far.

8:38 - Nice observation by Fowler: Rutgers has been a little cute in the red zone. Is that because they're afraid their base offense can't score against USF? Or is something they've eyeballed but just haven't executed?

8:40 - Touchdown Rutgers! Nice little pass there, hard to defend call as Underwood gets the score. Rutgers 10 - USF 10

8:43 - Today's special sideline guest: Michael Strahan. Hmm . . . I miss Ray Lewis. That guy should have a job with ESPN now, and if not now, immediately after retirement.

8:46 - So who will Lou Holtz give a pep talk to this week?

8:47 - Rutgers gets a nice sack there. That was big, sets up a 3rd and 17. Grothe all the time in the world to throw the next play, gets 15 of those 17 and the ball into Rutgers territory. Punt.

8:52 - Missed opportunity there for Rutgers on third and five. Bad Mike Teel showed up there. He might forever be an enigma for this Rutgers offense.

8:56 - Another first down, another long run for Grothe. Nothing going on that drive, though.

8:59 - USF ball! What a weird play. Rutgers' player muffed the ball, bobbling it into the hands of a USF player. He actually returned it for a touchdown but by rule that play cannot be advanced. Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge play for USF after Rutgers had started to slowly assert itself here in the second quarter. Ball on the Rutgers 18.

9:01 - TOUCHDOWN USF! After a holding to set up first and 20, Grothe fakes a handoff before hitting Jesse Hester Jr. streaking across the middle for the catch and score. That silenced the crowd. USF 17 - Rutgers 10

As I've said before, people criticize the USF offense for its average numbers, but every time I watch them I'm impressed in their ability to manufacture yards and points and show so many looks.

9:08 - Erin Andrews just accused her ESPN co-horts of being old men. Funny stuff.

9:11 - Ray Rice just absolutely dropped someone on a stiff-arm. Make that George Selvie. He's up to 20 carries now. Every time Rutgers makes a nice play, USF answers. This is great.

9:12 - Two plays, tow near-interceptions in USF territory by Teel. Streakiest player in college football? Timeout USF here, but after the TO Rutgers will line up for a field goal.

9:15 - TOUCHDOWN! They might need to review this, but Ito's field goal was blocked. USF's guys appeared to intentionally fumble the ball forward which is not permissible. The recovered ball was recovered and taken for a touchdown.

Fowler: "It's like they practiced that!" I agree. Creative, I like it, but two of those in a row is a tip-off that it was intentional. What a great night of football.

Well, upon review that second fumble appears to have been unintentionally fumbled. Now about that first one?

Flutie: "What's good about this is that they've been coached that on a blocked kick, to advance the ball forward and get it up the field" Indeed.

Yep, review calls them on the illegal forward pass on the initial return. No touchdown, USF ball marching backwards. Good catch by ESPN: no flag was thrown on the field, but the replay crew initiated a penalty there. Hmm . . . Flutie summons the memory of the Holy Roller play in the NFL.

9:20 - USF ball at the Rutgers 45 or so after the rest. First and long after a penalty and Grothe gets sacked the next play. Timely sack for Rutgers. On second and 31 Grothe works his way up the field back to the 50 but then USF gets flagged for a hold. Sloppy sloppy here with just 3:28 left in the half. Leavitt just popped some veins, the hat's gone, the headset's off and he's storming around the sideline. Great TV!

9:22 - Ok, so maybe there isn't a Holtz pep talk at halftime. Grothe scrambles for the improbable first down and 18 yards. What a save job! James again blames the funnel strategy for giving USF third down opportunities.

9:26 - 45-yard field goal is . . . wide left! Rutgers ball with 1:06 left trailing by seven.

9:30 - 25 seconds left, ball on the USF 44, Rutgers has a shot at a field goal and maybe a touchdown here.

9:31 - OooooooHhhhhh, dropped touchdown pass there. You touch it, you catch it son!

9:33 - Field goal time with 0:11 left, nice drive there just missing on a touchdown. From 40 it is . . .good! USF 17 - Rutgers 13

HALFTIME

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