Bulls’ kicker Maikon Bonani earned a spot on the BIG EAST weekly honor roll for his performance against Louisville. Bonani hit 3 of 4 field goals, including the game winner in overtime to give the Bulls the victory. The honor came a week after Bonani was tabbed the BIG EAST special teams Player of the Week. West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, Connecticut linebacker Lawrence Wilson and Syracuse kicker Ross Krautman were the winners of the league's weekly football honors for the week-ending Nov. 13.
The sophomore kicker missed last season after a back injury sustained in a fall at his summer job and began this fall behind Eric Schwartz on the depth chart, but on Saturday Bonani came through in a big way at Louisville, hitting 3 out of 4 field goals and nailed the deciding field goal in USF's 24-21 overtime victory.
Bonani put the bulls on the board with a 39-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 10 minutes remaining in the half. His second came after the Bulls' defense forced a three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half, and then the USF offense drove the ball 85 yards to set up a 22-yard field goal by Bonani to cut the Cardinal lead to 14-13. He had an opportunity to win the game in regulation with a 52 yard attempt and the score tied, but Coach Strong twice called timeouts at the end of regulation to try to ice Bonani. On the second, Bonani through the uprights, but officials had whistled the play dead before the snap. Bonani was wide left on the retry and the game went to overtime.
In overtime, Louisville tried a fourth down gamble but failed to make the yard. Strong called timeout to get a review of the spot, but the spot was upheld, and he didn't have a timeout left to call when Bonani lined up for his 37-yard try on USF's overtime possession. Bonani nailed hit for the win.
Last week, the Bulls’ kicker was named BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in his career after he scored nine points and was perfect on five placements to help USF in the win against Rutgers. Bonani made field goals from 47 and 21 yards, improving to 8-for-9 on field goal attempts since taking over as the Bulls’ regular placekicker for Eric Schwartz.. Bonani, who sat out last year after being injured in a fall the summer before, is now 8 of 9 on the season.
BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Geno Smith • So. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lawrence Wilson • Sr. • LB • Connecticut • Tuscaloosa, Ala.
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ross Krautman • Fr. • K • Syracuse • Franklin Lakes, N.J.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut — Had career highs of 37 carries and 222 rushing yards in a 30-28 win against Pittsburgh.
Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville — Had a career-high 31 carries for 140 yards in a 24-21 overtime loss to USF.
Jeremy Deering, WR, Rutgers — Rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries in a 13-10 loss to Syracuse.
Maikon Bonani, K, USF — Hit 3-of-4 field goal attempts, including the gamewinner in overtime, in a 24-21 win at Louisville..
Derrell Smith, LB, Syracuse — Had 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in a 13-10 win at Rutgers.