Safety Javan Camon is involved in two big hits, one that puts a teammate out for the game.
By THOMAS SIMONETTI
Published September 12, 2004
TAMPA - While USF's offense had trouble moving the ball during its 21-7 victory against Tennessee Tech, its defense was not shy about making hard tackles.
One was so severe, it sent a Golden Eagle receiver to a nearby hospital and kept a Bull out of the rest of the game.
Down 14-0 in the second quarter, the Golden Eagles had yet to cross midfield.
Tennessee Tech quarterback Robert Craft found Drew Hixon with a 19-yard pass up the middle that Hixon might regret catching.
Hixon looked for room to run after the grab and darted straight ahead.
But USF safety Javan Camon and cornerback Mike Jenkins closed in quickly.
The collision was big and ended the night for two of the three.
Camon and Jenkins sandwiched Hixon with such force that he fumbled the ball on his way to the ground.
The game was delayed for several minutes as Hixon, who transferred from LSU in 2002, lay motionless on the field.
Hixon, the son of Stan Hixon, a receiver coach for the NFL's Redskins, was carted of the field and taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. His injuries were not life-threatening, the team said, but he was still having tests.
Jenkins, credited with the forced fumble, was slow to get up as well.
The redshirt freshman sat out the rest of the game with a mild concussion.
Backup Trae Williams finished the game at left cornerback and returned an interception for a touchdown during the fourth quarter.
Camon, a senior, was not injured by the hit. He immediately jumped up waived his arms wildly.
He continued to be active on defense and special teams and wasn't finished with hard-hitting tackles.
Not long after the big hit, Camon was all over a Brandon Baker punt fielded by Ryan Nichols. He knocked Nichols off of his feet with another powerful hit.
However, Camon also was called for pass interference penalty during Tennessee Tech's touchdown drive.
