How No. 24 USF scored 4 TDs in span of 3 1/2 minutes to turn one-score deficit into blowout of North Texas

A muffed punt derailed a potential upset at Denton Friday night.

No. 24 USF headed back toward North Texas with 51 seconds left in the first half and a 21-14 deficit on its turnover-plagued hands. The Bulls have already had three gifts.

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Their third conclusion, however, was about to swing the pendulum.

A booming punt by Chase Leon bounced off the hands of North Texas wide receiver Miles Coleman, and USF safety Cedrick Hawkins Jr. jumped on the fumble.

Just like that, the Bulls were off to the races. In a span of three and a half minutes of play, they scored four touchdowns, turning a one-score deficit into what ultimately became a 63-36 blowout in a packed DATCU Stadium.

How it happened

Touchdown #1: 0:02 left in Q2, 2-yard pass to TE Jonathan Echols

After the muffed punt, USF quarterback Byrum Brown rebounded from his shaky start to quickly lead the Bulls down the field. With two seconds left and no timeouts left in the first half, USF head coach Alex Golesh rolled the dice. The Bulls went through the air and Brown found tight end Jonathan Echols wide open in the end zone for a two-yard score to tie the game at 21.

Touchdown #2: 13:51 left in Q3, 29-yard pass to WR Keshaun Singleton

From there, the Bulls gained momentum.

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Halloween came early for USF as it fooled North Texas with a final pass that treated the Bulls to a scoring touchdown.

The speedy Christian Neptune made a move before the snap, then moved to Brown’s hip before making a final spin to the right side of the field, where he corralled a 29-yard pass to fellow receiver Keshaun Singleton.

Singleton made a grab near the pylon and dove into the end zone for a score that put the Bulls up 28-21.

Touchdown #3: 12:35 left in Q3, 11 yards run by RB Sam Franklin

Three plays later, USF safety Fred Gaskin picked off North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker and returned the interception 27 yards to the Mean Green 15-yard line.

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It didn’t take long before running back Sam Franklin scored from 11 yards out to make the score 35-21.

Touchdown #4: 11:35 left in Q3, 34-yard fumble return by LB Jhalyn Shuler

On the ensuing drive at North Texas, USF released the ball on a shallow cross, and linebacker Jhalyn Shuler had fun — almost too much fun — on a 34-yard scoop and score.

Shuler was assessed a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, but that was an afterthought after USF’s blowout victory.

“We came out of halftime in great shape, and that’s what offense and defense are all about,” Golesh said after the game, according to the Associated Press. “Defensively, to force four turnovers against a really good offense, against a really good quarterback who didn’t turn the ball over, I thought that was really intentional by what our guys practiced, what their mindset was in the game.”

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USF, who started the season with wins over then-No. 25 Boise State and then-No. 13 Florida, is now 5-1. The Bulls have scored 229 points over their last four games, averaging 57.3 per game during that stretch.