Takeaways: Missed opportunities haunt USF in last-second loss to ECU

USF fell 20-17 to East Carolina on a last-second field goal, marking its third conference loss. Coach Brian Hartline addressed the team’s offensive struggles, late-game execution and Luke Kromenhoek’s first start. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON South Florida football suffered another close loss Friday night, falling 20-17 to East Carolina University on a 55-yard field goal as time expired at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The defeat marked USF’s third American Conference loss of the season, all by a combined 14 points. It dropped the Bulls’ (6-3, 2-3 American) chances of a top-two finish and conference championship berth to just 0.1%. Despite jumping out to an early lead and tying the game late in the fourth quarter, USF was unable to capitalize on its final two offensive possessions or prevent the Pirates (5-4, 3-2 American) from driving into field goal range. Head coach Brian Hartline pointed to those missed opportunities in the closing minutes as a deciding factor.

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