Central Florida News
USF Rallies Past Army 28-24 as Brian Hartline’s Fourth-Down Gamble Pays Off
Van Buren accounts for all four USF touchdowns as Joshua Porter’s 38-yard fourth-down catch completes a dramatic comeback at West Point.
WEST POINT, N.Y. (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida coach Brian Hartline put the game in his offense’s hands Saturday — and the gamble paid off.
USF erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and stunned Army 28-24 at Michie Stadium, capped by Michael Van Buren Jr.’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Porter on fourth-and-6 with 19 seconds remaining.
The dramatic road victory moved the Bulls to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in American Conference play, giving Hartline his first conference victory and first road win as USF’s head coach.
Van Buren Powers Fourth-Quarter Comeback
Trailing 24-14 with less than five minutes remaining, USF needed two touchdowns — and Van Buren delivered.
The quarterback led a 75-yard scoring drive and broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run, cutting Army’s lead to 24-21 with 3:13 remaining.
USF attempted an onside kick, but Army recovered. The Bulls’ defense responded by forcing the Black Knights to punt, giving Van Buren and the offense one final opportunity.
Starting at its own 19-yard line with 1:46 remaining, South Florida drove into Army territory and reached the Black Knights’ 38.
Then came Hartline’s defining decision.
FILE – USF head football coach Brian Hartline watches the action during the Bulls’ 2026 Spring Game at Corbett Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The game marked the conclusion of Hartline’s first spring leading South Florida. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
Hartline Rolls the Dice on Fourth Down
Facing fourth-and-6 from the Army 38, USF was within the outer limits of kicker Nico Gramatica’s range for a potential 55-yard game-tying field goal.
Hartline initially kept the offense on the field and used USF’s final timeout with 25 seconds remaining.
After the timeout, the Bulls still did not send out the field-goal unit.
Hartline went for the win.
Van Buren took the snap and found Porter streaking down the right sideline for a 38-yard touchdown, putting USF ahead 28-24 with 19 seconds remaining.
Army got one final possession, but the Black Knights’ attempt to keep the play alive ended with a fumble recovered by USF’s Herlin Perry Jr., sealing the comeback.
Van Buren Accounts for All Four USF Touchdowns
Van Buren finished 19-of-30 passing for 239 yards and two touchdowns while adding a team-high 45 rushing yards and two more scores on five carries.
He accounted for all four USF touchdowns and produced 284 yards of total offense without committing a turnover.
Porter emerged as the late-game target USF needed, including the decisive fourth-down touchdown reception.
Bulls Show a Different Way to Win
USF opened Hartline’s first season with a 19-9 victory over FIU, a game in which kicker Nico Gramatica connected on four field goals.
One week later, the Bulls showed they could win differently.
Army controlled possession for much of Saturday’s game and outrushed USF 219-130, but South Florida scored 14 unanswered points over the final 4:59 to turn a 24-14 deficit into a four-point victory.
The Bulls are now 2-0 for the second consecutive season, but this start carries added significance under a new coaching staff. Hartline already has his first road victory, his first American Conference win and an early signature moment as USF’s head coach.
When faced with the choice of attempting a long field goal to tie the game or trusting his offense to win it, Hartline chose the latter.
Van Buren and Porter rewarded that decision with the biggest play of USF’s young season.
Up Next
USF returns home to face Delaware State on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.
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– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Bulls move to 4-1 as Hartline turns attention toward corrections and the week ahead
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida’s unbeaten start ended Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium as Temple defeated the Bulls 17-13. USF struck first behind a Nico Gramatica field goal but went into halftime trailing 10-3 before finding momentum after the break.
USF responded in the third quarter as D.J. Crowther’s one-yard touchdown tied the game at 10.
USF and Temple battle at the line of scrimmage. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
The Bulls’ defense added a key stop when No. 1 C.J. Hicks recovered a Temple fumble in the end zone. Gramatica later connected from 49 yards to give USF a 13-10 fourth-quarter lead. Temple answered with the defining possession of the night, driving 96 yards before quarterback No. 13 Ajani Sheppard scored on a 34-yard run to put the Owls ahead for good.
Temple’s 96-yard fourth-quarter drive became the turning point in the 17-13 finish.
Joshua Porter sprints for catch with Adrian Laing closing in for Temple. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
USF was unable to answer late, dropping to 4-1. Following the game, head coach Brian Hartline focused on returning to the film, correcting the mistakes that surfaced and making sure the Bulls use the loss to improve heading into the next week.
FINAL: Temple 17, USF 13
Up Next: USF travels to San Antonio to face UTSA on Thursday night.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Central Florida News
Orange County Announces $28,200 Public Art Opportunity at Tangelo Park Community Center
Florida National News and FNN News en Español will provide on-site coverage of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at Cranes Roost Park.
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (FNN) — Hola at the Park will bring Hispanic culture, local businesses and live entertainment to Cranes Roost Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando and presented by AdventHealth, the event celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month through food, entertainment, entrepreneurship and community connections.
According to the chamber’s event announcement, admission is free, the celebration is open to the community and no registration is required.
FNN to Spotlight Businesses and Community Voices
Florida National News and FNN News en Español, official media sponsors, will be on location covering the festivities.
The FNN team will spotlight chamber representatives, sponsors, participating businesses and community leaders, while sharing attendees’ perspectives throughout the afternoon.
Coverage will highlight the people, businesses and cultural traditions contributing to the celebration.
Photo: Florida National News
Food, Entertainment and Family Activities
The chamber’s announcement lists authentic cuisine, live entertainment, local businesses, wellness experiences, community resources, networking and family-friendly activities among the event’s offerings.
Attendees will have opportunities to explore Hispanic traditions, connect with entrepreneurs and learn about organizations serving Central Florida.
Photo: Florida National News
A Waterfront Setting in Uptown Altamonte
Cranes Roost Park, located in Uptown Altamonte, features a waterfront setting with scenic walkways around Cranes Roost Lake and the Eddie Rose Amphitheater and floating stage.
The park will serve as the gathering place for an afternoon celebrating Hispanic heritage and the connections between culture, business and community.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
- Time: 2–6 p.m. EDT
- Location: Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs
- Host: Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando
- Presenting sponsor: AdventHealth
- Admission: Free and open to the community
- Registration: Not required
Photo: Florida National News
Vendor Inquiries
For information about vendor opportunities, contact the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando at info@hispanicchamber.com or events@hispanicchamber.com.
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