GRABBING HIS CHANCE

The University of Richmond reserve cornerback looked as if he knew what he was doing Saturday with three interceptions for 74 return yards.

Seth Williams may be a non-starter, but he is the most experienced of UR's defensive backs, a third-team all-Colonial Athletic Association selection last year as a sophomore.

Williams started all 14 games for the 2007 Spiders team that fell 55-35 in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals at Appalachian State.

"We knew we were going to get back [to ASU] this year, we just had this feeling we would," Williams said.

In Saturday's rematch, part of the FCS quarterfinal round, UR won 33-13, with Williams as the surprising defensive star. He started in place of David Horton, who suffered a concussion the previous week in a 38-10 victory over first-round opponent Eastern Kentucky.

"Seth's no stranger to playing in big games," Richmond coach Mike London said.

Williams assumed the role of third cornerback this season when sophomore Justin Rogers emerged as a starter to team with Horton.

"To be honest, it was kind of frustrating," Williams said. "But once you get into it, it's hard to be frustrated, hard to be upset about playing time, when you're winning like this."

The Spiders (11-3) visit North ern Iowa (12-2) in the FCS semifinals Saturday, in part because Williams made two momentum-grabbing plays at ASU.

Richmond led 9-7 with about nine minutes left in the third quarter. Neither team had been able to gain control. ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards threw toward the sideline on third-and-10 from the Mountaineers' 20. Williams stepped in front of the intended receiver, made the interception, and returned it 35 yards to ASU's 1. UR scored three snaps later to take a 16-7 lead.

"Seth knows what to do when he gets his hands on the ball," said Mark Heil, Williams' high school coach in Fayetteville, N.C.

Heil knows because at Cape Fear High, Williams played wide receiver and occasionally quarterback in addition to defensive back.

On Appalachian State's next series, Edwards again passed and Williams again intercepted. He caught the ball after it slipped through the hands of the Mountaineers' CoCo Hillary. Williams returned this one 40 yards, to ASU's 5. UR scored on the next snap to expand its lead to 23-7.

"We knew that atmosphere is an incredible atmosphere and once they start rolling. . . . Each one of those turnovers kind of took the breath out of the [fans]," Williams said.

The 5-10, 182-pounder made his third interception with 62 seconds left, long after Richmond had gone ahead 33-13.

"It worked out in our favor that we still had a game-tested veteran that was playing," London said of Williams' availability in Horton's absence. Horton is expected to start Saturday at Northern Iowa. The Spiders finished with five interceptions at ASU and head to Cedar Falls, Iowa, with a school-record 28.

"We're excited about David being back, and also about Seth," London said.
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or .