D.J. Crowther runs for 3 of USF's 7 rushing touchdowns in 59-17 win over Delaware State

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — D.J. Crowther ran for three of USF's seven rushing touchdowns and the Bulls sped away in the second half to beat Delaware State 59-17 on Saturday night.

The seven rushing touchdowns were one short of the school record of eight set against Kentucky Wesleyan in 1997.

Crowther and Luke Kromenhoek ran for two touchdowns each in the first half. Kromenhoek's second TD came from a yard out on the half's last play about a minute after Delaware State (2-2) of the Championship Subdivision had narrowed the score to 21-17 on Ui Ale's 20-yard pass to Jaylin Terzado.

After the Hornets came up just short of converting a fourth-and-7 early in the second half, the Bulls (3-0) went 61 yards with Crowther scoring on a 39-yard run for a 35-17 lead. That started a run of four second-half TDs on consecutive possessions.

Crowther finished with 101 of USF's 291 rushing yards on 11 carries. Michael Van Buren was 23-of-32 passing for 300 yards and a TD to Joshua Porter, who had 106 yards receiving on eight catches for the Bulls (3-0).

Ale was 16-of-22 for 249 yards and two scores. Nathan Stewart had 102 yards receiving, most of that coming on a catch-and-run 90-yard TD.

USF is off to its first 3-0 start since 2018.

The start of the game was delayed roughly a half-hour because of inclement weather.

Delaware State: home against Towson next Saturday.

USF: at Bowling Green next Saturday.

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