Golden Flashes Fall to Bulls, Turn Focus to Defend the Wagon Wheel

Saturday, October 17

Tampa, FL

7 PM ET

Kent State University

2-5 , 1-2

University of South Florida

5-2 , 1-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Kent St.	2	0	0	0	2
South Fla.	0	10	7	12	29

Kent State defender (#91) tackling a USF ball carrier (#5) during a football game.

Golden Flashes Fall to Bulls, Turn Focus to Defend the Wagon Wheel

10/17/2026 10:59:00 PM | Football

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. – South Florida capitalized on key defensive plays to defeat Kent State 29-2 Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. The Golden Flashes fell to 2-5 overall this season.

The Golden Flashes threatened to score early in the game, marching 77 yards in 14 plays before turning the ball over on downs at the USF 3-yard line. The Dark Side Defense responded when Dion'Dre Taylor tackled South Florida's D.J. Crowther in the end zone for a safety to take a 2-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, Kent State drove deep into South Florida territory again, reaching the end zone, but the referees ruled that the runners' forward progress had stopped before crossing the goal line. On the following play on third-and-goal, the Flashes fumbled at the 2-yard line, and it was scooped up by C.J. Hicks and returned 96 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulls a 7-2 lead. Kent State's opportunity to answer stalled when Sean Leonard's 46-yard field goal attempt missed wide, and South Florida took advantage by stringing together an 11-play, 40-yard drive capped by Nico Gramatica's 49-yard field goal with five seconds left in the half to extend the margin to 10-2.

South Florida extended its control in the second half, opening the third quarter with a 15-play, 73-yard drive that consumed eight minutes and 30 seconds before Luke Kromenhoek scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 17-2. The Bulls added to their lead in the fourth quarter when Michael Van Buren Jr. connected with Cameron Seldon on a 36-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 33-yard Gramatica field goal to push the lead to 27-2. Jabari Smith tackled Kent State in the end zone for a late safety with 11 seconds remaining to make it 29-2.

Brendyn Smith led the Golden Flashes' receiving efforts, catching four passes for 56 yards, including a team-long 30-yard reception. Ardell Banks added two receptions for 39 yards, while Wayne Harris finished with four catches for 28 yards.

Dru DeShields completed 17-of-30 passes for 165 yards on the night, while Brandon White led the rushing attack with 37 yards on 10 carries. Kent State generated 228 total yards of offense and converted 6-of-17 third-down opportunities, while being penalized eight times for 38 yards.

Defensively, Hayden Dawahare delivered a standout performance to lead the team with nine total tackles (four solo), a sack, and a tackle for loss. Davion Pritchard, Rocco Nicholl, and Aiden Burgess each tallied five tackles, with Burgess adding a sack, while Jaihien Roy registered four tackles and a sack.

UP NEXT: Golden Flashes return home to host Akron in the Wagon Wheel this Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m.

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