Williams’ Play Is Big Hit With Crowd

USC sophomore Mike Williams made an acrobatic one-handed catch in the back of the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown just before halftime Saturday, a reception Trojan Coach Pete Carroll called “scintillating, one for the ages,” and drew a standing ovation from the Coliseum crowd of 73,864.

And it wasn’t even the Williams play that caused the biggest stir in the Trojans’ 52-28 victory over Oregon State

The play that left an indelible mark on the crowd -- and on the chest of Oregon State’s Aric Williams -- was Mike Williams’ devastating pancake-like block of the Beaver cornerback that freed Reggie Bush for a 32-yard gain in the third quarter.

Bush took a pitch around the left end, but as he neared the sideline, he did a U-turn and began running toward the middle. Oregon State’s defense switched its pursuit, but as Aric Williams neared Bush, Mike Williams, who had lined up on the right side, flattened him with a blind-side hit so ferocious that Aric Williams simply got up and jogged off the field while the play was still going on.

“That was a heck of a block,” USC tackle Jacob Rogers said. “We offensive linemen never get that kind of a kill shot. He really lowered the hammer on that one.”

Asked if he saw the hit, Bush said, “Yeah, they replayed it [on the Coliseum video board] about six times. I heard it as I ran by. That sends a message to them that we’re here to play a football game, and you better beware, because you never know where a hit might come from.”

Williams, who caught seven passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 16 touchdown catches this season and 30 in 25 games in his career, downplayed his catch and the block, which dazed but did not injure Aric Williams.

“The only play I liked was blocking that kick,” Williams said of his blocked field-goal try early in the second quarter. “People want to paint this arrogant picture of me, but I don’t get caught up in what I do. I just try to make plays, and you can’t help but make that block when you know the guy can’t see you coming. I try to play with class and never take cheap shots.”

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Nick Holt, USC’s linebackers coach, confirmed he accepted an offer to become head coach at Idaho and will be introduced during a news conference at the school Monday.

Holt, 41, said he would like to coach in the Trojans’ bowl game, whether it’s the Rose Bowl or the Sugar Bowl. Holt said he has discussed it with Carroll.

“Pete has mentioned that he would like to work something out and officials at Idaho said they have no problem with it,” Holt said. “We’ll see how it works out.”

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After catching a three-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute 31 seconds left in Saturday’s game, Oregon State senior James Newson heaved the ball about 40 yards into the west side of the Coliseum, where Beaver fans were sitting, drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty.

The catch was the 20th touchdown reception of Newson’s career, setting a school record.

“That was for my brother [Bo] up there,” Newson said. “That broke the all-time record, and I wanted to get the ball to him. I used to be a quarterback, so it’s no big thing for me to throw a ball like that.”

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USC had surrendered an average of 319.1 yards a game before Saturday. The Trojans gave up a season-high 543 yards against Oregon State, eclipsing the 469 yards that California produced in a 34-31 triple-overtime victory over USC on Sept. 27.

Oregon State quarterback Derek Anderson passed for 485 yards, the most given up by the Trojans this season. USC gave up 399 yards against Hawaii.

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The 73,864 fans who attended Saturday’s game helped USC establish a Pacific 10 Conference record for home attendance. The Trojans averaged 77,084 for six home games, breaking the school and conference record of 76,043 set in 1988.