FORT LAUDERDALE - Benjamin Williams set a school-record with four rushing touchdowns today as the sixth-ranked University of South Florida Bulls avoided an upset against Florida Atlantic and escaped with a 35-23 victory.
Williams had a 54-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as he tiptoed the Bulls' sideline, staying in bounds and allowing the Bulls to take a 28-17 lead in front of the capacity crowd of 20,500 at Lockhart Stadium.
FAU trailed 28-23 with 2:26 remaining and needed to go 80 yards but failed to get a first down as USF took over on downs.
Williams tacked on his fourth touchdown run with less than a minute left.
USF coach Jim Leavitt said he expected a tough game from FAU, and wasn't surprised.
"I knew it would be a 60-minute ballgame. Coach Schnellenberger had his team prepared. We fought a very good football team, FAU fought their tails off."
USF took the lead for good in the third quarter when quarterback Matt Grothe scored on a 32-yard touchdown run, giving the Bulls a 21-14 lead. Facing a 4th-and-2 situation from the FAU 32-yard line, USF coach Jim Leavitt decided to go for it. Grothe kept the ball on the option play and avoided defenders on his way to the end zone.
The Owls closed the gap to 28-23 when Rusty Smith found Dilvory Edgecomb for a 47-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed as Smith's pass fell incomplete.
USF (5-0) led 7-0 and 14-7, but FAU tied the game both times on touchdown passes by Smith to Cortez Gent and Jason Harmon, respectively.
FAU (3-3) never led in the game, but had their opportunities as kicker Warley Leroy missed three field goals in the first half.
"I'm really proud of our team," Leavitt said. "I thought they did a great job of handling adversity in this environment."
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