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CB Williams Finds End Zone Again

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2007

Updated: 11/25/2007 12:23 am

PITTSBURGH - University of South Florida senior CB Trae Williams returned his third consecutive interception for a touchdown in Saturday's 48-37 victory.

Williams returned a fourth-quarter interception 21 yards for a score. Last week against Louisville, he had a 64-yard TD return and Nov. 3 against Cincinnati a 73-yard TD return. He also had a TD return as a freshman, giving him a school record four career interception returns for TDs.

"The guys used to tease me about not having a lot of return yards, but I showed I still have a little bit of the juice," Williams said.

Williams' six interceptions this season are one off his school record set last year. His 16 career interceptions are two shy of J.R. Reed's career record.

HEAVY HEART: Senior CB Mike Jenkins' grandmother passed away Monday and Jenkins did not practice all week. He flew up on his own Friday night.

"He came ready to play," Williams said. "It helped him to get his mind off things."

NEARLY FROZEN TUNDRA: Temperature at kickoff at Heinz Field was 35 degrees, the second-coldest game in USF history and only the seventh game USF has played when the temperature was 50 or less.

USF improved to 4-3 in games when the temperature is 50 or below, including 1-2 in games when it's 45 or below.

Besides the cold, the Heinz Field turf was chewed up from hosting four high school football games Friday. The field was painted green to hide the shoddy field conditions.

FOOLED AGAIN: For the second consecutive year, USF successfully executed a fake punt against Pittsburgh. Last year the Bulls converted two.

On fourth-and-8 from Pitt's 46, USF senior Sam Miller, an up-back in punt formation, took the snap and rumbled 29 yards to Pitt's 17 before running directly into Aaron Berry.

"They were joking with me because I didn't make no moves on the guy," Miller said. "I was too excited to get the ball."

SELVIE SO CLOSE: Sophomore DE George Selvie had a tackle for loss on Pitt's second play from scrimmage, but didn't have any more to remain within one of setting an NCAA record. Selvie, who has 31 1/2 tackles for loss, still has the bowl game to break the record of 32, set by Western Michigan's Jason Babin in 2003.

40-SOMETHING: USF exceeded 40 points for the third consecutive game, the second-longest streak in school history. The 2001 team scored at least 40 points in five consecutive games, but three of those contests were against Division I-AA opponents.

ODDS AND ENDS: RB Mike Ford had two rushing TDs and QB Matt Grothe one as they became the first USF teammates with at least 10 rushing TDs in a season. Ford has 12 and Grothe 10. ... USF's captains were all seniors: Williams, Jenkins, Miller and NT Julian Riley. ... WR Amarri Jackson (knee) and DT Aaron Harris (ankle) did not play, but are expected to return for USF's bowl game. ... Pitt senior DE Joe Clermond, of Chamberlain, had two sacks, three quarterback hurries and recovered a fumble. ... USF was penalized 11 times for 70 yards. After Chris Robinson was called for a dead-ball personal-foul penalty on the final play of the first half, USF coach Jim Leavitt walked off the field berating sideline judge Glenn Crowther so much that another official stepped in front of Crowther. ... Sophomore LB Donte Spires made his first career start and recorded his first sack.

Brett McMurphy

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