Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 67

jii if i pi 0 fm nr i pi iqjh Tifrl in-pi ri aw Him i nfjjrprii fp-p tyr- pnT" p' --r-y -y-y m'" 17c TIMES El SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2003 SOUTH FLORIDA 38, EAST CAROLINA 37 (2 0T) GAME BALLS 'due 68 0)W i DeJuan Green USF running back rfformainice i i USF back, who runs for 117 yards, aims for strong finish to disappointing college career. First career 100-yard game (117), and the Bulls needed every yard. Elgin Hicks USF receiver Mr. Efficient: Three catches, three touchdowns, including the winner. Kevin Verpaele USF safety The senior had 12 solo tackles and 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

BY THE NUMBERS 'ti a i By KEVIN BRAFFORD Special to the Timet Jabar Gaffney and Lito Sheppard the 5-foot-ll, 205-pound Green had transferred after two disappointing seasons at Georgia. That night against Nicholls State, Green fumbled twice, and when he walked into the locker room before the next practice, he found himself at the bottom of the depth chart. "In my heart I was crying," he said. "I had let my teammates down, and I'd let myself down. I never lost confidence in myself, but I knew the coaches had.

It was the lowest point in my life, and that's saying something given all that I've been through." Some would say Saturday's breakout performance is a case of too little, too late. A senior with Green's resume won't rank highly on the depth charts of NFL scouts, but the 23-year-old said he's deter mined to make every day count. "All I can do is go out and give 100 percent and help my team win," he said. "We can't win the conference, but we can go to a bowl game, and I want to be a part of that." Green said he could see a 100-yard game coming. He'd rushed for 54 on 10 carries against Southern Miss two weeks ago and 66 on 15 attempts against Cincinnati six days later, including a 25-yard run that was the winner in double overtime.

"The offensive line's doing a great job, and I'm getting more in synch with them the more carries I get," he said. "I finally feel like I'm starting to be the running back that I've always thought I could be." If he had it to do over again, all his college football would have ,4 Double-overtime games played by USF this season. Double-overtime wins for USF. Times photo STEFANIE BOYAR DeJuan Green drags Richard Moton in a 48-yard second-quarter run. been played at South Florida.

should have listened to my heart. "This was where I always want- "But that's in the past, and ed to be," he said. "I had some there's no use talking about it. people advising me that thought I Now, I just want to do the best I should go to Georgia, so I did. I can in the games I have left." Quarterbacks used Saturday by USF.

GREENVILLE, N.C. Dejuan Green had a Saturday to remember, rushing for 117 yards in 13 carries in South Florida's 38-37 victory over East Carolina in two overtimes. Not far from his heart, however, was another Saturday he'd like to forget but can't It was Sept 6, and the Bulls had just won their home opener against Nicholls State, but Green didn't feel like celebrating. A heralded prep star coming out of Jacksonville Raines his teammates included future Florida standouts Young QBs get hods for both foes Touchdowns for USF's Elgin Hicks and ECU's Vonta Leach. USF first downs in the first half.

40 Yard tying field goal by USF's Santiago Gramatica in the first overtime. 92 Total yards of USF offense in the first half. 216 Rushing yards allowed by USF. RHpMilll.Hil'.lll i I ix i i-i 1 ''A e- i i i if STATISTICS Total fint downs By rushing passing penalty Total net yards Total oflensivs plays Ag. gain par play Net yards rushing Net yards peesing Pass had intercepted PurrDHW.

end avg. yds punt ret yds rat yards inter rat Times sacketHrds lost yards FumbkNo. and test Time of possession USF ECU 11 22 15 4 1 1 243 362 61 96 40 It 142 219 101 146 10-22 16-34 0 0 M1.0 5-26 MO 5-116 MB 04 1-10 4-23 2' 15 6-46 4-3 2-1 22 59 37:01 14 7 7 0 3 7-38 0 14 7 7 3 6-37 South Florida East Carolina First Quarts USF-Hicks 10 peas from Jutmiate (Gramatica ktck). 2:00. USF Verpaele SO fumble recovery IQramatica Meal).

0:54. Second Quarter USF-Brewer 11 run (Gramatica kick). 13.20. ECU Townes 28 pass from Pinkney (Broedwelt kick), 7:25 ECU-Laech 1 run IBroadwell kickl, 4:34. Third Quarter ECU Whimper 7 rumble recovery Broedwelt kick), 14 05.

USF-Hicb 33 pass from Banks IGrsmetica ldck, 8 19 Fourth Quarter ECU-Uach 1 run (Broedwetl lockl, 0:21. First Overtime ECU-FG BroadweK 35. USF-fG Gramatics 40. Second Overtime USF-Mcb 22 pass from Banks. ECU-leach 3 run (kick Uuedl 427,100.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS USF Green I Jn i) I '1 i i li fl 1 4 I mmMmmMtb- i MttAU) "i 4 ft! -'v i i v. i utmjii" -j RUSHING Art Yds TD LO 13 117 0 46 8 49 1 11 3 6 0 3 10 3 0 9 1-10 0 1-300 3 -25 0 0 39 142 1 48 Art. Yds TD LG 26 111 3 15 21 107 0 17 13 13 0 11 1-15 0 0 61 216 3 17 PASSING Cp At Ira Vde TO Ska 9 16 0 96 2 0 4 6 0 15 1 1 10 22 0 101 3 1 Cp At bit Vde TD Ska 16 34 0 146 1 4 RECEIVING No. Vde. TD LO 3 65 3 33 2 9 0 7 2 3 0 6 1 14 0 1 11 0 11 1-10 0 10 101 3 33 No.

Yds. TD LG 5 39 0 12 5 3 0 11 1 29 1 26 1 19 0 16 19 0 9 19 0 9 19 0 6 13 0 3 16 146 1 28 PUNTING No Vde Avg LO 7 290 414 47 No Yds Avg. LO 7 322 460 6 1 6 60 53 8 328 41.0 63 PUNT RETURNS No Yda LO 4 15 13 1 11 11 6 26 13 No Yds LO 6 40 15 GREENVILLE, N.C. By the ninth game of the season, the lineup usually has been settled for weeks. Not so for South Florida imrmnn! East Caroli-NOTEBUUa na, at least not at the most impor tant position, quarterback.

The Bulls and Pirates had red-shirt freshmen quarterbacks Pat Julmiste for USF, James Pinkney for ECU making their first career starts Saturday in USF's 38-37 double-overtime win. Julmiste struggled, completing 4-of-6 for 15 yards. Two miscues, a fumble and a miscommunication on a shotgun snap led to ECU scores. He was replaced by erstwhile starter Ronnie Banks. Pinkney had a little more success, completing 16-of-34 for 146 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

MENTAL EXHAUSTION: USF might have little support if it makes it to a bowl game. The fans won't have any emotions left. Needing to win its final four games to become bowl eligible, USF has knocked off the first two in double OT. (The Bulls won 24-17 Oct. 31 against Cincinnati.) USF (6-3, 4-2) must beat UAB (Nov.

22) and Memphis (Nov. 29) to have the requisite six Division I-A wins to qualify for a bowl. ALL IN THE FAMILY: Santiago Gramatica's 40-yard field goal in overtime gave him 195 points for his career, surpassing brother Bill (193, 1998-2000) as the school's all-time leading scorer. PLAYMAKER: Fifth-year senior safety Kevin Verpaele scored his second touchdown of the season (and career) late in the first quarter, running 50 yards with a fumble for a 14-0 lead. It is the second-longest fumble return in school history, behind J.R.

Reed's 63-yarder in 2001 vs. Houston. Verpaele had a 29-yard interception score 27 at Army. BEEN A WHILE: Cornerback Bruce Gipson's first-quarter punt block was USF's first since Shur-ron Pierson's in the 2002 season opener vs. Florida Atlantic.

It led to the Julmiste-to-Elgin Hicks score to put USF up 7-0. WE'RE NOT IN FLORIDA ANYMORE: It was 58 degrees at the 2 p.m. kickoff and colder at the postsun-set finish. ON THE RETURN: Reed has ranked among the NCAA leaders in kickoff return average most of the season but has not had enough attempts to qualify in the official rankings. He needed two attempts Saturday to meet the minimum, and he had returns of 27 and 34 yards in the second quarter and 31 and 21 in the third.

Purple-and-gold clad East Carolina took the field to Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze. An injured shoulder knocked starting left tackle Derrick Saros. out of the game, and Frank Davis replaced him. ECU has scored 17 in the first quarter this season, less than two a game. Vlnce Brewer's 1 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter was his first carry since Oct.

18 vs. Charleston Southern. Brewer's second carry, a 7-yard gain, put the senior over 1,000 rushing yards in his career. PETE YOUNG Julmiste Iskra CaNum teem Totals ECU Leach Townes Pfnkey Fo Totals USF Banks Jutmste ECU Pmkey USF Hicks Whrnaker Bsher lekrs Sheffield Green ToUls ECU Howard Copper Townes Hounoan Veal Coftrmwt Foa Rios Totals USF Baker ECU Dougtwiy team Totela USF Faher Read Totaaj ECU Copper USF Ceaum Touts ECU Cooper Foa KICKOFF RETURNS I Times photo STEFANIE BOYAR USF players hoist receiver Elgin Hicks on their shoulders after Hicks caught a 22-yard pass in the second overtime. No 4 1 6 No 2 2 1 Yda 113 1 111 Yda 52 26 12 LO 34 1 34 LO 37 16 12 37 USF 6 from15C Totals UNOFFtCAL DEFENSIVE STATISTICS The Bulls took a 21-0 lead behind QB Pat Julmiste, but the freshman's turnovers allowed ECU to tie.

SOUTH FLORIDA Teckleo-Aeelets Verpaele 12-0 Jones 7-2. Paed 9-1 MRnbtnsonfrl Devsnport 6-1. Robot 6-0, Jones 3-2. Nicholas 4-0, Horrsngwsy J-0 Royal 1-1, Csmon 2-0. Salmon 2-0.

Jones 24. Robinson 1-1. Vterren 1-1, Barttea 11 Brown 1-1. Johnson 1-0. St Loua 14.

Lewie 1-0 Peases defused Royal, TJones. Seeks Kobel, JJones, Royal. Setnran EAST CAROLINA Tackier Assist. Moor 11-1. Jean 7-6, Butter 3-2 Foa 3-2 Heeth 3-1 Hunt 2-1, Whimper 2-0.

Emodi 2-0 Moton 2-0 Rose 2-0 McCoy 14. Stephana 1-0 Neery 1-0. Koonce 1-0 Pickett 14, BroadweK 0-1, McQueen 0-1. Bowden 0-1 2003 USF schedule NOVEMBER 8 USF 38, East Carolina 37 (20T) 22 UAB, 7 29 at Memphis. 2 Cincinnati game, was at the controls as USF bolted to a 21-0 lead.

Cornerback Bruce Gipson's blocked punt set up a Julmiste-to-Hicks touchdown for the 7-0 lead. On the ensuing possession Townes swept left and linebacker Courtney Davenport knocked the ball loose. Safety Kevin Verpaele scooped it and dashed 50 yards, putting USF up 14-0 with 54 seconds to go in the first quarter. On the first series of the second quarter USF drove 61 yards in three plays to make it 21-0. Dejuan Green's 48-yard run set up Vince Brewer's 11-yard TD scamper.

ECU also had a redshirt freshman making his first start at quarterback, James Pinkney (16-of-34, 166 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions). Though the Pirates were somewhat effective against USFs highly rated defense, it was a Julmiste fumble he was crunched by blitzing cornerback Erode Jean that led to ECU's second score. Then a gift-wrapped ECU defensive touchdown tied it at 21 early in the third quarter. Julmiste wasn't looking as Hcr-ron's shotgun snap sailed past him. and ECU's Guy Whimper picked up the ball at the 7 and rambled in.

"He started to give the hand signal (for the snap) and then he looked to the sideline." Herron said. "I thought he had given the signal. It was just a miscommunication." That's when Banks, who came in for one play late in the first half, was inserted for good. He was under pressure when he lofted the ball to a streaking Hicks for the winning score. Two officials deliberated for several seconds before signaling touchdown.

"I went and got it," Hicks said. "(Receivers) coach (Tom) Pajic says if it's close just sell (it), put the ball up to make it look like you caught it. I wasn't ure, but it was a touchdown." touchdown to Hicks to put USF up 28-21. "I just want to be there for Pat, support him. and if I need to be in there, he's there for me," Banks said.

"It's a team thing. An individual doesn't win this game. A lot of people win this game." ECU, playing USF on its homecoming for the second straight season, tied it late. The Pirates forced a Chris Iskra fumble and took over at the USF 33 with 4:09 remaining. They handed the ball to Vonta Leach nine straight times, and on the last, with 21 seconds to go, he crashed into the end zone from the 1, sending it to overtime.

"I told our football team that East Carolina was going to fight until the bitter end," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "We made a million mistakes and we were real fortunate." UP NEXT Leach (111 rushing yards) and Marvin Townes (107) both eclipsed the 100 mark, and ECU outgained USF 362-243, but it wasn't enough for the downtrodden Pirates (1-9, 1-5 in Conference USA). USF (6-3, 4-2) kept its no-margin-for-error bowl hopes alive. The Bulls must beat UAB (Nov. 22) and Memphis (Nov.

29) to qualify. Banks (6-of-16, 86 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions) had started seven of USF's first eight games, but about 45 minutes after kickoff he was accelerating toward oblivion. Julmiste, who relieved Banks midway through the South Florida vs. UAB, 7 p.m. Nov.

27, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa..