Oct 11, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls wide receiver Andre Davis (7) runs into the end zone after after a 51-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter against the East Carolina Pirates at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
It was a Homecoming for Andre Davis to remember but not a successful one for the USF Bulls.
Davis, who had missed the last four games with injury, became the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards but the Bulls couldn’t hold on to beat the East Carolina Pirates Saturday, losing 28-17.
USF (2-4) were outscored 21-0 in the second half as Marquez Grayson, Breon Allen and Anthony Scott all had rushing touchdowns.
After their final drive stalled and trailing by 11, the Bulls set up for a field goal with 35 seconds left to try and make it a one score game but Marvin Kloss missed a 28-yard attempt.
USF had jumped to an early 7-0 lead as Mike White hit Davis for a 51-yard score but ECU (5-1) would tie it with 37 seconds left in the quarter as Shane Carden connected with Allen for a 35-yard touchdown pass.
On USF’s second drive of the second quarter, White hit Davis for a 25-yard completion that sent him past Carlton Mitchell and into sole position of the most receiving yards in school history.
Davis finished the game with six catches for 124 yards and now has 1,710 receiving yards for his career. He sits just two catches behind Hugh Smith (126) for the most catches in school history and is third in touchdown receptions (11), one behind Taurus Johnson and Dontavia Bogan.
Marlon Mack finished the Bulls drive with a 13-yard touchdown run before Kloss kicked a 45-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half that had been set up by a Johnny Ward interception. However, the Bulls offense was shut out in the second half.
White went 21-of-41 for 257 yards and also threw an interception while Mack added 61 yards on the ground.
USF’s defense leaked yards all night as ECU put up 481 yards of offense as Carden threw for 250 while Allen ran for 124. ECU had 231 rushing yards while USF mustered just 93.
The Bulls are on the road next week when they face Tulsa Saturday afternoon.