NEXT MAN UP
Brantley replaces injured Hewlett, leads Bulls to Conference Championship
Saturday December 9, 2028 | 4:00 PM | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida - When Locklan Hewlett went down and stayed down late in the second quarter of a 10-10 game the crowd, and the sideline, at Raymond James Stadium collectively held their breath. Dom Bragg made it 13-10 and the USF defense forced a quick three and out with under a minute left in the half. After a long punt return by Ethan York Bulls head coach DJ Porter's mindset went from playing it safe until the break to trying to break the game open, even with Brantley, who had attempted four passes all season, in the game.
When the moment demanded composure, the South Florida Bulls leaned into a familiar mantra: next man up.
After a couple quick completions set them up near midfield USF stopped the clock with two seconds left. Many assumed they would be happy to take a knee and head into halftime with a three point lead.
Wrong.
Brantley took the shotgun snap, stepped up into the pocket and delivered a perfect back shoulder ball to Jeremiah Stoneburner for a 43 yard score and a 20-10 Bulls lead.
UAB would get inside the five yard line twice in the second half but fail to score another point as USF secured the 27-10 win and their second straight American Conference championship.
After UAB opened the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run by Jayson Mangold midway through the first quarter, Connor Suggs answered just 14 seconds later. Taking a handoff near the 20, Suggs burst through a crease and outran the Blazers’ secondary for an 83-yard touchdown that immediately swung momentum and ignited the home crowd.
From there, the Bulls leaned on their depth and balance. Dom Bragg provided a steady presence with field goals of 38 and 46 yards in the second quarter, while the defense tightened in key moments to keep UAB out of the end zone. Just before halftime, Brantley delivered the game’s defining play, a perfectly placed 43-yard strike to Stoneburner at the goal line as time expired, giving USF a commanding 20–10 lead at the break.
Brantley’s stat line was modest but impactful: 5-of-6 passing for 71 yards and a touchdown, with an interception that never shifted the game’s momentum. Hewlett, before exiting, completed 8 of 14 passes for 81 yards, helping steady the offense early.
The second half became a showcase for Suggs and the Bulls’ defense.
Linebacker Eric Rance twice dropped UAB runningbacks in the backfield on fourth and goal plays, the second one setting up a 14 play drive that ended when Suggs capped it with a 10-yard touchdown run, his second score of the afternoon, finishing with 141 rushing yards on just 12 carries. USF averaged 8.3 yards per rush and 8.0 yards per play, repeatedly gashing a UAB front that entered the game among the conference’s best.
Defensively, the Bulls absorbed pressure while delivering timely stops. Tracy Bennett and Eric Rance led the way with 11 tackles apiece, while Kevin Wynn and Isaiah Singleton combined for 3.5 sacks. Despite UAB piling up 248 passing yards and converting over half of its third downs, the Blazers never found the end zone after their opening drive.
Special teams quietly tilted the field throughout the afternoon. Bragg was perfect on all six kicks, Dorian McSurdy pinned UAB deep with a 57-yard punt, and Elton York’s returns helped shorten the field when opportunities arose.
By the final whistle, the numbers told a familiar story. UAB controlled possession and first downs, but USF made the most of its opportunities, scoring touchdowns instead of settling, flipping field position, and striking with explosive plays when they mattered most.
For the Bulls, the championship wasn’t just about one quarterback or one run. It was about preparation, trust, and the confidence that whoever steps into the huddle is ready for the moment.
On a December afternoon in Tampa, Joshua Brantley proved he was ready, and South Florida proved once again that its standard doesn’t change, no matter who answers the call.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
UAB – Jayson Mangold 30-yard run (Anthony Luna kick), 5:28
USF – Connor Suggs 83-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 5:14
Second Quarter
UAB – Anthony Luna 37-yard field goal, 8:21
USF – Dom Bragg 38-yard field goal, 4:04
USF – Dom Bragg 46-yard field goal, 0:50
USF – Jeremiah Stoneburner 43-yard pass from Joshua Brantley (Dom Bragg kick), 0:00
Fourth Quarter
USF – Connor Suggs 10-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 2:58
USF Stat Leaders
Passing
L. Hewlett – 8/14, 81 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, 57.1%, 5.7 YPA
J. Brantley – 5/6, 71 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 83.3%, 11.8 YPA
Rushing
C. Suggs – 12 Car, 141 Yds, 11.7 Avg, 2 TD
S. Snead – 4 Car, 22 Yds, 5.5 Avg
N. Daniel – 3 Car, 21 Yds, 7.0 Avg
Receiving
J. Bridgewater – 5 Rec, 73 Yds, 14.6 Avg
J. Stoneburner – 3 Rec, 52 Yds, 17.3 Avg, 1 TD
S. Snead – 4 Rec, 17 Yds, 4.2 Avg
Defense
T. Bennett – 11 Tkl (4 Solo, 7 Ast)
E. Rance – 11 Tkl (5 Solo, 6 Ast), 5 TFL, 1.0 Sack
K. Wynn – 3 Tkl, 2.0 Sack
I. Singleton – 6 Tkl, 3 TFL, 1.5 Sack
Special Teams
D. Bragg – 2/2 FG (Long 47), 3/3 XP
D. McSurdy – 1 Punt, 57 Yds, 57.0 Avg
E. York – 1 KR, 15 Yds, 1 PR 25 Yds
UAB Stat Leaders
Passing
B. Chambers – 20/24, 189 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, 83.3%, 7.8 YPA
L. Drayton – 5/5, 59 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, 100.0%, 11.8 YPA
Rushing
J. Mangold – 11 Car, 70 Yds, 6.3 Avg, 1 TD
J. Verrett – 7 Car, 31 Yds, 4.4 Avg
B. Chambers – 9 Car, -43 Yds, -4.7 Avg
Receiving
J. Carter – 5 Rec, 63 Yds, 12.6 Avg
B. Forney – 5 Rec, 60 Yds, 12.0 Avg
R. Coprich – 7 Rec, 59 Yds, 8.4 Avg
J. Elder – 4 Rec, 25 Yds, 6.2 Avg
J. Mangold – 1 Rec, 22 Yds, 22.0 Avg
Defense
J. Judson – 8 Tkl (2 Solo, 6 Ast)
F. Knight – 8 Tkl (2 Solo, 6 Ast), 1 TFL
K. Peete – 5 Tkl (0 Solo, 5 Ast)
C. Dixon – 5 Tkl (2 Solo, 3 Ast), 2 TFL
X. Grymes – 4 Tkl (4 Solo)
C. Schweitzer – 3 Tkl (1 Solo, 2 Ast), 1 TFL, 1.0 Sack
Special Teams
A. Luna – 1/1 FG, Long 37, 1/1 XP
B. Kellum – 2 Punts, 72 Yds, 36.0 Avg, 23.5 Net
| Category | USF | UAB |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 27 | 10 |
| First Downs | 15 | 18 |
| Total Offense | 335 | 306 |
| Total Plays | 42 | 56 |
| Yards Per Play | 8.0 | 5.5 |
| Rush | Yards | TD | 22 | 183 | 2 | 27 | 58 | 1 |
| Yards Per Rush | 8.3 | 2.1 |
| Comp | Att | TD | 13 | 20 | 1 | 25 | 29 | 0 |
| Yards Per Pass | 7.6 | 8.6 |
| Passing Yards | 152 | 248 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 2 | 6 (33%) | 6 | 11 (54%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 1 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 2 (0%) |
| 2 Pt Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 0 (0%) |
| Red Zone TD | FG | % | 1 | 0 | 33% | 0 | 1 | 25% |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| PR Yards | 25 | 0 |
| KR Yards | 15 | 0 |
| Total Yards | 375 | 306 |
| Punts (Avg) | 1 (57.0) | 2 (36.0) |
| Penalties | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
