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Quinton Flowers debuts with USF Bulls

 
Freshman QB Quinton Flowers finds a hole in the N.C. State defense during the fourth quarter.
Freshman QB Quinton Flowers finds a hole in the N.C. State defense during the fourth quarter.
Published Sept. 14, 2014

TAMPA — With several snaps in relief of Mike White on Saturday, Quinton Flowers became the fifth quarterback of Willie Taggart's 15-game tenure to take meaningful snaps for the Bulls.

A heralded dual-threat freshman from Miami, Flowers made his college debut on the Bulls' third possession, gaining 8 yards on a pair of runs before White re-entered. He finished with 32 yards on six carries, but two of his four passes were intercepted, including one in the back of the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

"He can throw, he can run, he can do it all," White said. "We're going to keep using him. He's too good of an athlete not to use."

Junior Steven Bench, meantime, went unused. Afterward, Taggart said Bench remains the backup, but Flowers will continue to be used in certain situations.

"I just got tired of seeing Mike get hit every time he tried to throw the football," Taggart said. "I wanted to see Quinton come in there and see if he could give us something."

FLASH OF HOPE: Lanky freshman Ryeshene Bronson's first college catch was the kind unseen by Bulls constituents in recent years. His 75-yard TD reception from White was the eighth-longest in school history, and the longest since B.J. Daniels' 84-yarder to Darrell Scott against Florida A&M in 2011. "He dropped a pass last week and didn't get discouraged," Taggart said. "He just came back and fought and got himself a touchdown this week."

RETURN OF THE FREAKSHOW? Taggart said he's hopeful WR Andre Davis (sternum), who has missed the last two games, can return for Friday's prime-time home conference game against Connecticut. Meantime, LG Thor Jozwiak (shoulder, toe) also missed his second straight game. Senior Quinterrius Eatmon and sophomore Dominique Threatt started at the guard spots.

ODDS AND ENDS: With his 43-yard second-half field goal, Bulls PK Marvin Kloss is now 5-for-6 on the season, and 2-for-3 from 40 or more yards. … Former Plant High standout Eric Dungy, an Oregon transfer, had his first catch as a Bull — a 7-yarder in the fourth quarter. … LB Rahmon Swain had a career-best seven tackles and first fumble recovery. … Lamar Robbins' third-quarter interception return for a TD was USF's fifth defensive TD in 15 games under coordinator Chuck Bresnahan.

AUDIBLE: "I thought I threw the ball; I thought we got kind of robbed on that call. But once again, that's just adversity we've got to overcome." — White, whose right arm appeared to be moving forward when he was blindsided late in the first quarter by Thomas Teal and lost the ball. Officials ruled it a fumble, and N.C. State scored four plays later.