UCLA’s Williams Has Sweet End to Soward Day

Deep in overtime, with his team clinging to the lead, UCLA free safety Shaun Williams found himself face-to-face with a defensive back’s nightmare.

All day long he watched in horror as Trojan receiver R. Jay Soward carved up the Bruin secondary. The freshman found gaping holes in zone defenses and outran stumbling cornerbacks on the way to six receptions for 260 yards and three touchdowns.

With the score 48-41 and the Rose Bowl crowd roaring, the UCLA coaches assigned Williams to cover Soward man-on-man.

“I felt like I was on an island,” Williams said. “But that’s the job the coaches wanted me to do.”

It came as no surprise that the Bruins turned to him in a pinch. In the three years since he arrived at UCLA as an All-Southern Section player from Crespi High, Williams has become what Coach Bob Toledo refers to as the glue that holds the defense together.

But Soward could make any defender come undone.

He turned a tough third down into an easy 19-yard score when the defense broke down in the first quarter. Minutes later, he caught a screen pass and veered up the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.

The UCLA defense tried switching coverages. They tried blitzes. Mostly, they tried to keep their heads up as the offense fought to keep the game within reach.

“Our main thought was to never give up,” Williams said.

After UCLA scrambled back with two late touchdowns to send the game into overtime, Williams lined up against Soward.

Said Bruin defensive coordinator Rocky Long: “We feel like Shaun is our best defensive back and we wanted him on their best receiver.”

The final four plays began with USC at the UCLA 25-yard line. Williams and defensive end Travis Kirshke stopped Delon Washington after a seven-yard gain. On second down, he stuck with Soward and the Bruins recorded a sack.

Then the Bruins got lucky. As Soward went in motion across the field, Williams got tangled up with his middle linebacker. The receiver, all alone in the right flat, dropped the ball.

On fourth down, the Bruin secondary left no open holes and cornerback Anthony Cobbs intercepted a desperation pass in the end zone.

Suddenly, a day the Bruin defense would rather forget turned into a memorable victory. Williams, who tied for the team lead with six tackles and two assists, could finally let down.

He collapsed on the field as quarterback Cade McNown jumped on top of him.

“This is it,” Williams yelled. “This is the best, baby.”