Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
6-7 , 3-6
USF
10-2 , 6-2
Tech Drops Bowl Heartbreaker To No. 23 USF, 38-34
December 23, 2017 | Football
Keke Coutee racks up 187 yards on 11 receptions in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Tyre McCants caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Quinton Flowers with 16 seconds left to lift No. 23 South Florida to a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech in the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday.
Flowers lifted the Bulls (10-2) to a second straight dramatic victory in the bowl game at Legion Field, throwing for a pair of touchdowns in the final 4:26.
The Red Raiders (6-7) had taken the lead back with Nic Shimonek's 25-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open T.J. Vasher in the end zone with 1:31 remaining.
The Bulls had won last year's Birmingham Bowl on Flowers' 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime against South Carolina.
Shimonek took Texas Tech across midfield in the final seconds, but was unable to find the endzone on the last play of the game.
Shimonek, who had led a fourth-quarter comeback in the regular-season finale against Texas, completed 32 of 59 passes for 416 yards. He threw for three touchdowns and was intercepted twice on deflected balls.
Keke Coutee had 11 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown while Justin Stockton ran for 103 yards.
THE TAKEAWAY
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders couldn't translate a 249-130 edge in first-half yards into an advantage on the scoreboard. They converted 10 of 19 third downs.
South Florida: Flowers had a terrific second half after going 4-of-14 passing for 52 yards in the first. ... Defensive tackle Deadrin Senat had three first-half sacks for South Florida, matching his season total coming into the bowl.
UP NEXT
Texas Tech: Shimonek and leading rusher Stockton are seniors, but all but one defensive starter has eligibility remaining.
South Florida: The Bulls must replace Flowers, a three-year starter, plus leading receiver Valdes-Scantling and tailback D'Ernest Johnson on offense and eight starters on defense. Leading tackler leaves behind Auggie Sanchez a big hole to fill.
Team Stats
TTU 3, USF 0
TTU - Hatfield, C. 26 yd field goal 12 plays, 67 yards, TOP 4:13
TTU 3, USF 3
USF - NADELMAN, Emili 25 yd field goal 11 plays, 58 yards, TOP 3:35
TTU 10, USF 3
TTU - Coutee, Keke 5 yd pass from Shimonek, Nic (Hatfield, C. kick) 11 plays, 66 yards, TOP 3:48
TTU 10, USF 10
USF - MCCANTS, Tyre 21 yd pass from FLOWERS, Q (NADELMAN, Emili kick) 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:24
TTU 17, USF 10
TTU - Cantrell, Dylan 3 yd pass from Shimonek, Nic (Hatfield, C. kick) 6 plays, 28 yards, TOP 2:57
TTU 17, USF 17
USF - SALOMON, Darnel 17 yd pass from FLOWERS, Q (NADELMAN, Emili kick) 9 plays, 91 yards, TOP 2:45
TTU 24, USF 17
TTU - King, Tre 4 yd run (Hatfield, C. kick), 4 plays, 40 yards, TOP 1:45
TTU 24, USF 24
USF - FLOWERS, Q 5 yd run (NADELMAN, Emili kick), 9 plays, 43 yards, TOP 3:07
TTU 27, USF 24
TTU - Hatfield, C. 33 yd field goal 13 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:28
TTU 27, USF 31
USF - SCANTLING, Marq 64 yd pass from FLOWERS, Q (NADELMAN, Emili kick) 2 plays, 65 yards, TOP 0:36
TTU 34, USF 31
TTU - Vasher, T.J. 25 yd pass from Shimonek, Nic (Hatfield, C. kick) 8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 2:47
TTU 34, USF 38
USF - MCCANTS, Tyre 26 yd pass from FLOWERS, Q (NADELMAN, Emili kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:07
