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south florida 7, west virginia 13 milan puskar stadium morgantown, w.vA.
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Summary
1 2 3 4 F South Florida 0 7 0 0 7 West Virginia 7 3 3 0 13
Stat Comparison
First Downs	21	22
Rushing Yards	167	139
Passing Yards	189	141
Total Yards	356	280
Turnovers	3	1
Penalties/Yards	7/80	3/25
Third Down Conversions	11-16	7-15
Time of Possession	30:28	29:32
Top WVU Players
Top Rusher Top Passer Noel Devine 90 Yards Pat White 141 Yards, 1 TD   Top Receiver Top Tackler Jock Sanders 38 Yards Brandon Hogan 9 Tackles

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three key turnovers produced by the Mountaineer defense elevated West Virginia to a regular season-ending 13-7 victory over South Florida on Saturday evening at Mountaineer Field.

Although the Bulls (7-5, 2-5) produced 356 yards of total offense, the Mountaineers (8-4, 5-2) turned away four USF red zone tries including a fourth and 12 from the 17 on the next-to-last play of the game. Sidney Glover’s two forced turnovers, including a fumble recovery and an interception, combined with Ellis Lankster’s interception early in the second half proved vital to the Mountaineer victory.

“I’m proud of this football team,” coach Bill Stewart said. “It’s been a tough week, and I have not been a happy camper. I don’t like losing, and I’m sick to my guts about last Friday, and we came back and beat a good football team.”

Quarterback Pat White overcame the snow and the emotion of senior night against a team that has been able to control him on the ground during the last two seasons. The Daphne, Ala., native was 14 of 23 for 141 yards passing with a touchdown, and he ran 15 times for 40 yards while committing no turnovers in a defensive battle that took place in the wind and snow.

“Nineteen young men played their last home game on Mountaineer Field,” Stewart said. “The Mountaineer Nation has been very blessed to watch these 19 men play.”

After sitting out the first quarter, Noel Devine totaled 90 yards on 17 carries. Jock Sanders led WVU in the receiving game, notching 38 yards on five receptions.

WVU mustered 280 yards of offense, but had difficulty coming away with points on several occasions. The Mountaineers only touchdown-producing drive of the game came on the outset, covering 58 yards in 11 plays.

Brandon Hogan and Pat Lazear led WVU with nine tackles apiece, while Mortty Ivy and J.T. Thomas each tallied seven stops. Thomas recorded WVU’s only sack of the game, wrapping up USF quarterback Matt Grothe for a six-yard loss at WVU’s 22 during the Bulls’ final possession.

Senior Pat McAfee averaged 45.5 yards per punt on four attempts. The Plum, Pa., native also nailed two field goals from 42 and 45 yards in difficult conditions.

After giving up a time-consuming drive on USF’s first possession, the Mountaineer defense created a big turnover when Glover forced and recovered a fumble by Bulls tailback Mike Ford at WVU’s five yard line.

The Bulls responded on their second possession with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a 6-yard touchdown run by Grothe. Facing third and goal on the Mountaineer six-yard line, Grothe faked the tailback draw and sneaked around the left end to knot the game at 7-7.

The Bulls nearly took the lead until Glover intercepted a pass in the end zone intended for USF’s Taurus Johnson, resulting in a touchback. WVU responded and was able to go 52 yards in 33 seconds, aided by a pass interference penalty that set up a McAfee 45-yard field goal right at the end of the first half.

Grothe started the second half with his second interception of the game. On second and 10 from their own 20, Grothe threw one up for grabs that Lankster picked off at WVU’s 41. That led to McAfee’s second field goal, a 42 yarder.

On USF’s final drive after the Mountaineers were stuffed on third and one at the 26 and McAfee’s 49-yard field goal try was wide left, the Bulls got to the WVU 12 with 30 seconds on the clock and no timeouts remaining. A key sack by Thomas and a tackle-for-loss by Ivy put USF back to the 17. On USF’s final play Grothe’s pass for Johnson fell incomplete into double coverage by Lankster and Boogie Allen.

“I was excited about our fast start. I was disappointed early because our defense couldn’t get off the field. Our interceptions and fumbles were huge,” Stewart said.

“It was a hard fought game and an exciting game. I was pleased with the kicking game. I was frustrated with the penalties, and that better be corrected. But I thought the special teams did a good job.”

The Mountaineers’ victory over USF snaps a two-year losing streak against their young rival. West Virginia wins its eighth game for the seventh consecutive season – a school best, as is its seventh consecutive bowl appearance.

WVU was offered and accepted an invitation to the Meineke Car Care Bowl following the game, which takes place on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. on ESPN against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent. The game will be played in Charlotte, N.C.