South Florida Pulls Off Wild Comeback at Army Behind Late Plays

USF looked like it was running out of time at Army.

The Bulls trailed 24-14 with 4:59 left and had struggled to get enough possessions against an Army offense that controlled the clock for much of the afternoon.

Then everything changed.

USF scored twice in the final five minutes, with the defense making a critical stop in between to give the offense one final opportunity.

The result was a 28-24 comeback victory at Michie Stadium, giving USF a 2-0 start and a 1-0 record in American Athletic Conference play.

Army Controls the First Half

Army made it difficult for USF to find any rhythm early.

Hartline said the Bulls had only three possessions in the first half, making each drive especially important against an Army offense built around controlling the ball.

Army put together drives of 90 and 92 yards in the first half and took a 14-7 lead into halftime.

USF knew it needed to find a way to get the Black Knights off the field.

"We understood how precious each possession was," Hartline said.

That became even more important as the game moved into the second half.

The Defense Responds

USF's defense came out of halftime with an opportunity to change the game.

Hartline said the message was less about delivering a big halftime speech and more about the players relying on the preparation they had already put in.

The Bulls eventually forced Army into two straight three-and-outs, giving the offense opportunities in a game where possessions were limited.

Army still managed to regain control and eventually took a 24-14 lead, but USF continued to stay within striking distance.

Late in the game, the defense came through with several plays behind the line of scrimmage.

One of the biggest came from Zavier Hamilton, who recorded a sack that forced Army to punt and gave USF another chance.

"Those changed the game," Hartline said.

Van Buren Gets USF Back in It

With 4:59 left and USF trailing by 10, Michael Van Buren Jr. took over.

The sophomore quarterback led a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with his 24-yard touchdown run with 3:13 remaining.

Van Buren finished with 239 passing yards on 19-of-30 passing while adding 45 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He also threw two touchdown passes. He accounted for all four USF touchdowns.

Hartline said the performance showed some of what the coaching staff saw during the quarterback competition, while also making clear that there is still plenty for Van Buren to improve.

"He's got some gamer moment in him," Hartline said.

The Bulls were suddenly within three.

They needed the ball back one more time.

The Defense Comes Through Again

USF attempted an onside kick after Van Buren's touchdown, but Army recovered.

That left the Bulls needing another defensive stop.

Army ran three plays and lost five yards.

On third-and-9 from the USF 40, Hamilton came through again, sacking Cale Hellums for a six-yard loss. Army was forced into a fourth-and-15 and punted from the USF 46.

An unnecessary roughness penalty on Army during the punt moved the Bulls to their own 19 with 1:46 remaining.

Suddenly, USF had one more possession.

Hartline said the late defensive plays were not the result of players suddenly becoming something different because the game was on the line. They were the result of trusting the work they had already put in.

"You just make sure you do what you do," Hartline said.

Now the offense had one more chance.

Porter Makes the Final Play

Van Buren moved the Bulls down the field, connecting with Joshua Porter on a 22-yard completion along the way.

Porter had already made an impact earlier in the game, catching three passes for 67 yards.

With 25 seconds remaining, USF called its final timeout.

The Bulls faced fourth-and-6 from the Army 38.

A field goal could have tied the game, but Hartline decided to keep the offense on the field.

He said he did not like the length of the potential field goal for a game-winning attempt and wanted to give his players an opportunity to win the game.

Van Buren delivered.

He found Porter for a 38-yard touchdown with 19 seconds remaining, putting USF ahead 28-24.

It was the final offensive play the Bulls needed.

Army's last possession ended with an interception by USF's defense, sealing the comeback and sending the Bulls home with a 2-0 record.

For a team that had limited possessions, struggled to find consistency early and faced a 10-point deficit with less than five minutes remaining, USF found a way to make the biggest plays when it mattered most.

Hartline's message afterward was simple.

Rely on the training. Trust the players. Let the moment take care of itself.