Colleges

A battle in the trenches awaits UCF

By TIMES STAFF WRITERS and ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 26, 2006

JACKSON, Miss. - Quarterbacks and tailbacks get all the highlights. But when Southern Miss travels to Central Florida for tonight's game, a national TV audience will get a chance to see two of the nation's top pancake-loving offensive lines.

Forget zone blocking schemes and the spread offenses Conference USA is mostly known for. The Golden Eagles and Golden Knights will be playing a different brand of football in the league opener for both teams.

"They get a hat on a hat, they move their feet, they're well coached, and a lot of those kids are back from last year," Knights coach George O'Leary said. "And it looks like they've grown up from the weight room a little bit."

UCF (1-2) has an offensive line that has 108 cumulative starts, fifth best among Division I-A teams. Southern Miss (2-1) is 10th with 101.

Southern Miss' line, with four returning starters, has not allowed a sack in three games.

The Eagles might be looking back to last year's game in Hattiesburg, when they won 52-31 and led 45-7 at halftime.

But that was the only conference loss for the Knights, who went 8-5 after 17 consecutive losses. UCF is expected to win the league's East Division with 18 returning starters, including quarterback Steven Moffett.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

FSU: Freshman LB out

Florida State freshman linebacker Marcus Ball tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday's game and will miss the rest of the season, the school said Monday.

"He was not playing like a freshman," defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said. "It will be a significant loss."

Ball, a key player in passing situations and on special teams, had 13 tackles (tied for fourth on the team), broke up two passes and had an interception that he returned 54 yards.

It is the third major blow for the defense in as many weeks, after season-ending injuries to tackle Paul Griffin and safety Anthony Houllis, a former Tarpon Springs star.

Meanwhile, kicker Gary Cismesia, who hit a career-long 53-yard field goal against Rice, was named the ACC's special teams player of the week.

- BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer

UF: Fake was for show

GAINESVILLE - When Urban Meyer decided to fake a field goal on fourth and goal from the Kentucky 22 on Saturday, he didn't think he'd get the touchdown, he said Monday.

Meyer wanted to show upcoming opponents the play to keep them honest.

"On fourth and 22, I had a good idea we weren't going to get that touchdown. That was not the intent. ... But, as long as people know we have it, they're a little more cautious about putting everybody in the A-gaps."

Holder Butch Rowley didn't pitch the ball to kicker Chris Hetland as planned and was stopped at the 19.

LSU GAME TIME SET: The Gators' Oct. 7 homecoming game against LSU will start at 3:30 and will be televised by CBS.

- IAN FISHER, Times correspondent

USF: Injuries mount

TAMPA - Although the Bulls have a shortened week to mend injuries to key players before they face No. 23 Rutgers on Friday, coach Jim Leavitt does not seem concerned.

Nose tackle Richard Clebert's groin injury kept him home from the Kansas game Saturday, with junior Jarriett Buie, an Armwood grad, making his first career start.

Leavitt said Clebert looks good.

And starting center Nick Caponga practiced Monday with a hard cast on his left arm, and defensive back Carlton Williams was declared fine by Leavitt.

Long-snapper Ryan Bordeau's shoulder is sore since he left Saturday's game and was replaced by Eric Sester, Leavitt said. Bordeau's status is unclear.

TV UPDATE: The Oct. 7 game against Connecticut at 7 p.m. will be on Ch. 28 in Tampa and WTNH in Hartford, Conn., with the broadcast produced by ESPN Regional.

- MIKE CAMUNAS, Times correspondent

[Last modified September 26, 2006, 01:42:00]