Keshaun Singleton caught a game-winning two-point pass from Bryce Archie in the fifth overtime to help South Florida post a dramatic 41-39 victory over San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl on Tuesday night in Honolulu.
The Spartans’ attempt to force a sixth overtime came up empty when Walker Eget’s pass toward Justin Lockhart fell incomplete.
“That was a heck of a football game,” San Jose State coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “We had our chances in regulation. … Our kids battled. Super proud of our kids.”
Ta’Ron Keith scored on a touchdown run in overtime and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown for South Florida (7-6).
Archie was 24-of-35 passing for 235 yards and one interception for the Bulls, who traveled nearly 4,700 miles for the game. Kelley Joiner and Nay’Quan Wright rushed for touchdowns.
Archie got the start over Byrum Brown, who had been sidelined due to a lower leg injury. Prior to kickoff, Bulls coach Alex Golesh wasn’t sure who was going to be under center, but he commended both quarterbacks following the victory for their unselfishness.
“Byrum tried all the way through warmups,” Golesh said. “As much of a game-time decision as I’ve ever had in my career.”
Sean Atkins had 11 receptions for 104 yards for USF. Atkins became the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,167, passing Andre Davis (2,136 from 2011-14).
Eget completed 33 of 58 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Spartans (7-6), who lost their fourth straight bowl game.
Matthew Coleman had 12 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown and Jackson Canaan had a scoring reception while Floyd Chalk IV and Lamar Radcliffe rushed for touchdowns.
San Jose State played without consensus All-American receiver Nick Nash, who opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft.
USF’s John Cannon forced overtime with two seconds left in regulation when his 41-yard field-goal attempt hit the right goalpost and went through the uprights to tie the score at 27.
In the first overtime, Keith scored on a 2-yard run for the Bulls, and Eget tossed a 4-yard scoring pass to Coleman for the Spartans. Kyler Halvorsen kicked a 24-yard field goal for the Spartans in the second overtime before Cannon answered with a 36-yard field goal to tie the contest at 37.
In the third overtime, where teams look to convert two-point conversions, Archie’s shovel pass to Payten Singletary put the Bulls ahead before Eget connected with Coleman to tie the game. Both teams came up empty in the fourth overtime.
Radcliffe’s 2-yard TD run gave the Spartans their first lead of the game at 27-24 with 11:14 left in regulation.
The Spartans trailed by 11 at halftime but later moved within 21-20 on Eget’s 5-yard scoring pass to Canaan with 3:41 left in the third quarter.
The Bulls increased their lead to four on Cannon’s 33-yard field goal with 13 minutes left in the fourth.
USF struck first on Wright’s 3-yard scoring run with 45 seconds left in the opening quarter. The Bulls pushed the lead to 14-0 on Joiner’s 4-yard TD run with 6:53 left in the second period.
Chalk scored on a 3-yard run to get the Spartans on the board with 2:09 left in the first half.
Keith fielded the ensuing kickoff, broke two tackles and eluded a late tackle attempt on a 93-yard touchdown to give the Bulls a 21-7 lead.
–Field Level Media
