Byrum Brown had another all-around performance and quick-tempo No. 19 South Florida subdued the visiting, high-flying Florida Atlantic Owls 48-13 in an American Conference matchup on Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.
Brown, who came into the day with 14 total touchdowns in his last three games, continued his dominant play completing 14 of his 24 passes for 256 yards and three TDs. He added 111 yards rushing and another TD on the ground.
Jeremiah Koger also showed out as he electrified the crowd with a 60-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap off a four-catch, 90-yard showing.
South Florida (6-1, 3-0 American), known for its high-tempo offense, had just one of its scoring drives go longer than 3:15. The Bulls outgained FAU (3-4, 2-2) 522-312.
After South Florida was held without a touchdown on four straight drives, Brown found Wyatt Sullivan on fourth-and-1 for a 24-yard catch-and-run that pushed the lead to 31-13 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.
The Bulls followed that up with Brown’s 60-yard connection to Kroger to make it 38-13 with 13:39 left, putting the game firmly out of reach.
South Florida added a touchdown — a 2-yard rush by Nykahi Davenport — and a 28-yard field goal later in the fourth.
FAU’s Caden Veltkamp was 35-of-50 passing with 244 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Asaad Waseem hauled in eight catches for 56 yards.
Brown opened the game with a designed run up the middle, going untouched 22 yards for the quick 7-0 lead a little more than three minutes into the game. The Owls responded with a 45-yard field goal by Garrison Smith with 5:53 left in the first.
After a missed field goal, the Bulls scored on a 19-yard hook up between Brown and Jonathan Echols to push the lead to 14-3.
After recovering a surprise onside kick after the score, the tricks didn’t stop for the Bulls. They went with 325-pound backup right guard Cole Skinner from 1 yard out to make it 21-3 with 9:40 left in the half.
A field goal right before the break, and a 3-yard pass from Veltkamp to Michael Kirch on the Owls opening drive of the second half made it 21-13.
Nico Gramatica made a 41-yard field goal with 8:20 left in the third before the Bulls’ second half eruption.
