Stony Brook's 59-14 loss a good learning experience

Seawolves coach Chuck Priore did his homework before facing South Florida in Stony Brook's first-ever game against a school from a BCS conference. He researched games matching schools from different levels of competition and detected a pattern.

"Most of these games are close for one and a half quarters," Priore said. "You put a little scare into them and wake up the sleeping giant. They started blitzing more after we moved the ball."

The Seawolves not only moved the ball, they took a 14-7 lead with 5:30 left in the first quarter on a 3-yard run by Edwin Gowins and a 27-yard pass from Michael Coulter to Brock Jackolski. But once the Bulls were paying attention, the difference in speed and talent manifested itself.

South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels ran for a tying touchdown and then drove the Bulls 70 yards for a go-ahead field. The Bulls then blocked a Drew Evangelista punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown and took a 31-14 halftime lead when Daniels hit Joel Miller with a 19-yard TD pass with six seconds left to intermission.

In the second half, the Seawolves' Coulter threw three of his four interceptions, one of which was returned 33 yards by Mark Joyce for a touchdown and one of which ended a Stony Brook drive at the Bulls' seven-yard line. The Seawolves lost starting cornerbacks Donald Porter (knee) and Al-Majid Hutchins (shoulder) to injury, and South Florida's Daniels took advantage, completing 15 of 22 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. The Bulls also rushed for 180 yards, including a 63-yard scoring run by Marcus Shaw, and totaled 563 yards of offense.

"I'd like to say the first half should have ended, 17-14," Priore said. "The botched punt should have been a safety. But I'm proud of the way we competed."

When Jackolski slipped out of the backfield to get wide-open down the left sideline for the go-ahead scoring pass from Coulter, it was a thrilling moment for the Stony Brook sideline. "It was an unbelievable feeling for playing a Big East team and we're up, 14-7," Jackolski said. "Our fans were going crazy. Everyone was so excited."

But South Florida started coming harder after Coulter, whose interceptions mainly were the result of pass-rush pressure, including the tipped ball that was returned for a TD. Coulter completed 9 of 21 passes for 112 yards, including four passes to Jordan Gush for 58 yards, and Miguel Maysonet led the Wolves in rushing with 72 yards on 11 carries.

"They're big, and they can move," Coulter said of the Bulls' defense. "They were a step faster. Still, it was my fault. I've got to see that and throw the ball away."

While South Florida was gearing up to play No. 4 Florida next Saturday, the Seawolves should find the going much easier in their home opener against American International, a Division II program. As Priore noted, his team was preparing for an 11-game schedule, not just the big one against a Big East team.

"It's up to us to stay positive," Coulter said, "and not look at the scoreboard."