The Mountaineers marched down the field with lethal efficiancy on the first drive of the second half, and looked to be a team making a bee line for the end-zone to regain momentum after a sluggish first half. Devon Brown caught Geno Smith wide open in the middle of the field, but was stripped of the football when he was just a few yards from paydirt.
The miscue would cost the Mountaineers three points, when the Bulls marched down the field but ultimately settled for a 32 yard field goal. The 'Eers shot themselves in the foot repeatedly on the drive with multiple penalties, a couple of them questionable.
After the defense stymied the Bulls next drive, Geno Smith retook the field and immediately threw a freaky interception. Stedman Bailey's attempt at the football resulted in the South Florida defender wrestling the ball away from him at the last moment as he lay on the ground on his back. The weird turnover resulted in great field position for the Bulls, but they could only convert a field goal to cut the lead to seven. A Keith Tandy goal-line pass interference call had awarded South Florida 1st and goal from the two, but the Mountaineer defense held firm.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Mountaineers lead 20-13.