Pirates Come Up Short in Double Overtime
November 08, 2003 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- The extra-point kick attempt by East Carolina's Cameron Broadwell was partially blocked in the second overtime, giving South Florida a 38-37 victory Saturday.
The Bulls (6-3 overall, 4-2 Conference USA) had taken a seven-point lead on Elgin Hicks's third touchdown catch of the day -- a 22-yarder from Ronnie Banks -- and Santiago Gramatica's extra-point kick.
The Pirates (1-9, 1-5) moved within a point on fullback Vonta Leach's 3-yard run, but Broadwell had his kick partially blocked wide right.
Broadwell, who earlier had missed two field goals, had been successful on a 35-yard field goal attempt in the first overtime. His effort was matched by South Florida's Gramatica from 40 yards.
The Pirates forced overtime with 21 seconds to play when Leach plunged in from the 1. The touchdown capped a 10-play, 33-yard drive after a fumble by South Florida's Chris Iskra.
The Bulls won all three of their overtime games this year. They earlier beat Louisville (31-28) and Cincinnati (24-17), also both in two overtimes.
South Florida scored 21 points in a 3:40 span of the first half. The first touchdown was set up by Bruce Gipson's block of a Ryan Dougherty punt.
The Pirates answered with two touchdowns before halftime. James Pinkney, starting at quarterback in place of the injured Desmond Robinson, connected with Townes on a 28-yard score.
The Pirates pulled even at 21-21 just 55 seconds after halftime. Guy Whimper picked up the ball and returned it the final 7 yards.
Postgame Quotes: USF head coach Jim Leavitt:
"I told our football team that East Carolina was going to fight till the bitter end. I think it was going to be the toughest challenge we have ever had having to come up here two years in a row for homecoming on the road after playing a double overtime win against Cincinnati. I was a real challenge."
"It was a game that could have gone either way obviously. We had some things work our way in the end when we blocked the extra point."
"In a game like this we have to give East Carolina all the credit in the world. It was a tough game for those guys and a tough situation to be in. We made mistakes and we were real fortunate to win."
Postgame Quotes: ECU head coach John Thompson:
"I told our team how proud I was of them for showing so much backbone and character to be where we've been and the stuff we went through tonight."
"I don't think I have ever been in a situation where we came out on the bottom end of the scoreboard and I felt like these guys didn't deserve that. There are winners down there in that dressing room and they were winners in that football game tonight. There were some things that happened that kept us one point shy on the scoreboard."
On his team's response to USF's early 21-0 lead:
"A team that's 1-8 with no character would have thrown in the towel then, but it didn't happen. This team fought, scratched, and came back. There were just some things that happened that kept it from going all the way."
On fullback Vonta Leach:
"Vonta Leach is a warrior. I absolutely love what the guy did out there tonight. He put the team on his back and took us in there."
On kicker Cameron Broadwell:
"Cam Broadwell has had an unbelievable year. He is a very, very good kicker and will be a very, very good kicker. I told Cam that I love him and that we wouldn't be in that situation without him. That just happens; it's part of the game. That was just one play in the game that happened. I'm not disappointed in Cam one bit."
On the officiating:
"They do their best. They're good guys and they try their best. It's just part of the game. It's a shame. You have to overcome it and keep fighting, and we overcame everything. We got some calls, didn't get some other calls ? it happens. It's a shame when you've got a team that's fighting its guts out."
On freshman quarterback James Pinkney:
"I thought he played with so much poise. He had control of the game and never got shaken up. He handled the whole game very, very well. He got his checks, got us in the right formation and did everything well. Our entire offense played well."
