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Pierre-Louis Plays Takeaway, Giveaway

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By JENNA MARINA Tribune correspondent

Published: October 28, 2007

JACKSONVILLE - As kickoff neared in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Gators cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis bobbed on the sideline to the beat of the music blaring from the stadium's speakers.

He may have been a little too pumped for Florida's 42-30 loss to Georgia on Saturday.

The sophomore was responsible for two of Florida's seven penalties and was beaten in coverage on Georgia's game-winning touchdown.

While much of the focus was on Georgia's first-quarter, post-touchdown celebration, Florida ended up responding with a hasty play of its own.

Early in the second quarter, Pierre-Louis intercepted Matthew Stafford's pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. On the end of the run, he extended his arm with the ball in hand before somersaulting into the end zone.

Pierre-Louis was cited for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a 15-yard penalty.

It was the first interception of his career, and his second touchdown, but his showboating cost him any bonus points with UF coach Urban Meyer.

'I'm very disappointed it happened,' Meyer said. 'Shocked.'

Unfortunately for Pierre-Louis, the problems kept coming.

Early in the fourth quarter he was flagged for a personal foul, another 15 yards, after he jostled with a Bulldogs player. On the next play, Pierre-Louis was beaten on his coverage of Mikey Henderson, who caught a 53-yard pass from Stafford for Georgia's fifth touchdown.

Pierre-Louis was not available for comment after the game, but senior safety Tony Joiner insisted the sophomore didn't have any unusual issues against the Bulldogs.

'He just played like a corner would play,' Joiner said. 'He was aggressive on a couple of plays, and he made kind of a boneheaded play by jumping in the end zone, but that's a young guy for you. He came out with enthusiasm and he played. Corners get beat all the time, so he just got beat.'

Like Pierre-Louis, the UF defense seemed to struggle, allowing 10 of 13 third-down conversions. The Gators also allowed Knowshon Moreno 188 of the Bulldogs' 196 rushing yards.

Sophomore linebacker Brandon Spikes admitted the defense had a bad game and said if the team expects to rebound, Florida's young players need to start contributing.

'There's always room for improvement, just preparation,' Spikes said. 'We need young guys to step up and make plays.'

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