WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Michael Van Buren Jr. ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more, including a 38-yarder to Joshua Porter on fourth down with 19 seconds to go, lifting South Florida to a 28-24 win over Army in an American Conference opener on Saturday.

Van Buren’s 24-yard touchdown scramble brought the Bulls (2-0, 1-0) within three points of the Black Knights (1-1, 0-1) with 3:13 left. An onside kick failed but Army lost yardage on its possession and a punt plus a personal foul on the Black Knights gave the Bulls the ball at their own 19 with 1:46 remaining. Van Buren completed five passes to drive the Bulls to the Army 38 before he found Porter down the right sideline on fourth-and-6 for the go-ahead score.

Army took a 14-7 halftime lead on Cale Hellums’ touchdown passes to Zach Mundell and Godspower Nwawuihe. Van Buren tied the game midway through the third quarter on an 18-yard run before Army went back out in front on a field goal and Nwawuihe’s 10-yard TD run with five minutes left that came on Army’s third TD drive of over 90 yards.

Van Buren was 19 of 30 for 239 yards passing and ran for 45 more.

Hellums was 9-of-10 passing for 91 yards and added 55 on the ground. Nwawuihe ran for 94 yards on 20 carries.

Up next

South Florida: Home against Delaware State next Saturday.

Army: At Temple on Sept. 25.

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