South Florida-Rutgers football sidebar for St. Pete Times
College football: USF 45-Rutgers 31
Knights receive Royal's treatment
By DENIS GORMAN
Published November 6, 2005
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - USF defensive end Terrence Royal stood in a hallway, wearing a huge grin.
"I always expect to play like that every game," the senior said after the Bulls' 45-31 win over Big East foe Rutgers. "I expect to play a big game every game.
"I have high expectations for not only myself, but the whole defense. It's not a surprise."
Royal was a one-man wrecking crew, finishing with six tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, half a sack and his first career touchdown.
His fun began early.
Two plays after Johnnie Jones' 32-yard interception return for a touchdown, Royal and Jason Allen blitzed Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart. Allen got to Hart first, from the blind side. As Hart went down, the ball popped free, right into Royal's hands. He rambled 11 yards into the end zone, holding the ball aloft.
Not a bad way to score your first touchdown.
"I wanted to dance," Royal said, "but I thought about the extra point. I kept to myself, held the ball and ran to the sidelines."
The fumble return for touchdown was USF's first since Nov. 24, 2004 when Craig Kobel recovered a fumble in the end zone against Cincinnati.
In the third quarter, Royal again tormented Hart. This time, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound end dropped into coverage and picked off a pass, returning it 22 yards to the Rutgers 25-yard line. On the ensuing drive USF scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Andre Hall, but the extra point was blocked.
Midway through the second half, Rutgers began clicking on all cylinders, cutting a 37-17 lead to 37-31. It was a time when a young team needed a calming presence. And Royal was.
"It (the game) was swinging back and forth," Royal said, gesturing with his hands. "I went to the guys on the sideline, told them I loved them and said we as a defense have to (come together). I said if they didn't score, they wouldn't win."
For the game, USF forced six turnovers. Playing a team that had only turned the ball over 11 times (only losing one fumble) in eight games coming in, the takeaways were huge.
"Mainly, we knew we had to create turnovers in order to win the ballgame," Royal said.
Royal certainly thinks better efforts are ahead.
"Our defense is talented; our defense is talented," the senior said. "Basically, we need to stay focused throughout the game; play that kind of game for 60 minutes.
"That's when you'll see me in all smiles."
Knights receive Royal's treatment
By DENIS GORMAN
Published November 6, 2005
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - USF defensive end Terrence Royal stood in a hallway, wearing a huge grin.
"I always expect to play like that every game," the senior said after the Bulls' 45-31 win over Big East foe Rutgers. "I expect to play a big game every game.
"I have high expectations for not only myself, but the whole defense. It's not a surprise."
Royal was a one-man wrecking crew, finishing with six tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, half a sack and his first career touchdown.
His fun began early.
Two plays after Johnnie Jones' 32-yard interception return for a touchdown, Royal and Jason Allen blitzed Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart. Allen got to Hart first, from the blind side. As Hart went down, the ball popped free, right into Royal's hands. He rambled 11 yards into the end zone, holding the ball aloft.
Not a bad way to score your first touchdown.
"I wanted to dance," Royal said, "but I thought about the extra point. I kept to myself, held the ball and ran to the sidelines."
The fumble return for touchdown was USF's first since Nov. 24, 2004 when Craig Kobel recovered a fumble in the end zone against Cincinnati.
In the third quarter, Royal again tormented Hart. This time, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound end dropped into coverage and picked off a pass, returning it 22 yards to the Rutgers 25-yard line. On the ensuing drive USF scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Andre Hall, but the extra point was blocked.
Midway through the second half, Rutgers began clicking on all cylinders, cutting a 37-17 lead to 37-31. It was a time when a young team needed a calming presence. And Royal was.
"It (the game) was swinging back and forth," Royal said, gesturing with his hands. "I went to the guys on the sideline, told them I loved them and said we as a defense have to (come together). I said if they didn't score, they wouldn't win."
For the game, USF forced six turnovers. Playing a team that had only turned the ball over 11 times (only losing one fumble) in eight games coming in, the takeaways were huge.
"Mainly, we knew we had to create turnovers in order to win the ballgame," Royal said.
Royal certainly thinks better efforts are ahead.
"Our defense is talented; our defense is talented," the senior said. "Basically, we need to stay focused throughout the game; play that kind of game for 60 minutes.
"That's when you'll see me in all smiles."
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 3:01 AM
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