BYU lets another close game get away with another second-half collapse on the road, falls 27-23 to South Florida
After starting quarterback Jaren Hall leaves game with concussion-like symptoms, third-stringer Baylor Romney leads two-late game drives but Cougars can’t get the ball in the end zone, lose third-straight game
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Third-string quarterback Baylor Romney rushes for a first down after he enters the game against USF following Jaren Hall’s injury, in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.
TAMPA, Fla. — It was so similar to the loss two weeks ago at Toledo, it was almost eerie.
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: BYU controls the first half but doesn’t lead by as many points as it should, takes even more control in the second half and then suddenly can’t figure out how to stop the run, especially quarterback runs.
Then the Cougars’ starting quarterback gets hurt, and his backup comes in and almost saves the day, but throws an incomplete pass to the end zone as the clock strikes zero.
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“It was a rough game, a game we felt like we were in position to win, and didn’t. Losses like this hurt.” — BYU center James Empey
History repeated itself, from BYU’s perspective, in all the wrong ways Saturday afternoon in front of 35,375 sun-drenched fans as the Cougars fell 27-23 to South Florida when third-string quarterback Baylor Romney’s lob pass to Matt Bushman and/or Dax Milne was knocked away in the end zone.
At Toledo in almost similar fashion, Jaren Hall’s last-second toss soared out of the end zone and BYU was upset 28-21 to another team its fans believe it has no business losing to: Toledo. Romney, a redshirt freshman, was filling in for Hall, who had been filling in for Zach Wilson (fractured right thumb) injured on Sept. 28.
A BYU spokesperson said Hall was suffering concussion symptoms and was not cleared by the training staff to return. BYU also finished the game without starting running back Emmanuel Esukpa and its best defender, Dayan Ghanwoloku, was held out with an undisclosed injury.
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BYU running back Lopini Katoa is stopped after making a first down in second-half action against the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Linebacker Chaz Ah You intercepts a pass in BYU's loss to USF at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake looks up at the scoreboard as time winds down in BYU's defeat against USF at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Third-string quarterback Baylor Romney rushes for a first down after he enters the game against USF following Jaren Hall's injury, in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Third-string BYU quarterback Baylor Romney enters the game after Jaren Hall is injured in the fourth quarter against USF, in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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University of South Florida fans celebrate a rushing touchdown in the Bulls victory over BYU in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU wide receiver Talon Shumway is upended after making a big gain at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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USF's Jordan McCloud celebrates after scoring a touchdown as the Bull beat the BYU Cougars in Tampa, Fla. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake lead his team in singing the Cougar Fight Song to a large crowd of BYU fans gathered at the end of the game against USF in Tampa, Fla. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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As time expires, backup quarterback Baylor Romney's end zone pass falls incomplete, and BYU loses to the USF Bulls 27-23. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and running backs coach AJ Steward react to a touchdown in the first half against the USF Bulls at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU's Zach Wilson sits on the sidelines with th thumb of his throwing hand in a cast, prior to BYU's game at USF | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU starting quarterback Jaren Hall scrambles during the first half against the USF Bulls at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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The BYU Football team warms up in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU's Aleva Hifo tiptoes down the sideline for extra yardage, in the first half against the USF Bulls at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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The BYU Football team arrives at Raymond James Stadium for their matchup with the University of South Florida. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU's Isaiah Kaufusi recovers a fumble in first-half action against the USF Bulls at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Lincoln Mills (left) and his mom Cassidy Mills of Provo, Ut, walk to Raymond James stadium for BYU's game against the University of South Florida. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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KLyle Petersen of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. tailgates prior to the BYU game with USF in Tampa. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Fans file into Raymond James Stadium before the game between BYU and the University of South Florida in Tampa. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU's Khyiris Tonga warms up before a game with the University of South Florida in Tampa. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU wide receiver Gunner Romney grabs a reception in double coverage in a game against USF at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Cougar fans react to BYU's defeat as game time winds down against USF in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Cougar fans react to BYU's defeat as game time winds down against USF in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU tight end Matt Bushman runs for additional yards after making a catch against USF in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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BYU cheerleaders cheer to Cougar fans in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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USF players celebrate after stopping BYU's offense on fourth down in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Quarterback Jaren Hall rushes for a first down in the second half of BYU's defeat against USF in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
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Starting quarterback Jaren Hall escapes pressure from the USF defense in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. | Robert W. Grover, For the Deseret News
For BYU, which fell to 2-4 and suddenly looks in danger of missing a bowl game for the second time in three years with Boise State, Utah State and San Diego State still on the horizon, it was simply more frustration as it lost its third-straight game.
“Obviously, very disappointing outcome to the game, and the result, and we have some things to address and improve on from this week to next week when we got a ranked team (No. 14 Boise State) coming into our home,” said head coach Kalani Sitake.
After Toledo ran for 64 yards in the first half and 178 in the second for 242 against BYU’s No. 118th ranked run defense last month, South Florida ran for 65 in the first half and 178 in the second half for 243 total on an 86-degree day in central Florida.
“I felt like we had a pretty sound first half, then fell apart,” Sitake said. “It became a fight, and they beat us in the second half and were able to get some yards. It didn’t help that we made a lot of mistakes in all three phases.”
Fell apart is putting it mildly.
The Cougars led just 16-7 at halftime despite piling up 209 yards and holding USF to just 119. The Bulls (3-3) took the second half kickoff and marched 68 yards for a touchdown on 11 runs and three passes, and the game was on.
“It was a rough game, a game we felt like we were in position to win, and didn’t,” said center James Empey. “Losses like this hurt.”
The 2019 Cougars are getting used to them.
BYU led 23-14 when Hall scampered 29 yards for a touchdown with just under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter, then would not score again.
After Hall was hit just after he released the ball on an incomplete pass, a hit that almost certainly caused the concussion symptoms, Jake Oldroyd missed a medium-range field goal for the second-straight game, with 11:20 remaining.
“We really could have used those points,” Sitake said.
USF answered by driving 78 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, a 2-yard plunge by Jordan Cronkrite. He finished with 158 yards and two scores. Hall went to the sidelines having passed for 148 yards and a TD (to Dax Milne) and rushed for 83 yards and a score while becoming the first African American to start at QB for BYU in program history.
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Romney took over with 7:30 remaining and moved the Cougars inside the USF 10, but his 5-yard pass to his brother, Gunner, on fourth down was short of the first-down marker and the Bulls took over with 1:36 remaining.
The Cougars got the ball back with 1:09 left and got to the USF 12 before Baylor Romney was sacked by Antonio Grier. His lob into traffic fell incomplete.
“He came in and it looked like he didn’t miss much of a beat,” Sitake said. “I wish we would have had more conversions, and would have had more time to win the game.”
The Cougars host Boise State on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. (ESPN2).
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