Jim Leavitt has made his reputation in the college football coaching

profession as a defensive whiz, so much so that his South Florida team

has given West Virginia's high-powered offense fits since the two schools became Big East Conference rivals.

The schools have met four times dating back to 2005, and the margin of victory for either school has been no more than 15 points.

That came in the initial game, a 28-13 victory in Tampa. Since then, USF has won by five points and eight points before WVU won last year, 13-7, in a white-out, both literally and figuratively. It was record-setting quarterback Pat White's final home game, and it was a game that was played in a cold, snowy environment.

"We are going to have to move the ball and move the pocket," said WVU coach Bill Stewart. " We can't let people get us in their cross-hairs. We will have to throw it deep, throw over routes and move the ball around."

South Florida, 5-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big East, will host the Mountaineers, 6-1 and 2-0, at 8 p.m. Friday before a national audience.

The game will be televised by ESPN2.

Leavitt said there must be some decisions made defensively that have not been made in past games against WVU.

"They have so many playmakers on the perimeter and inside," he said.

"They throw the ball so well, and that quarterback (Jarrett Brown) still runs. He's big and strong. You have to make decisions on how you're going to do it all."

Stewart cherishes that confusing aspect of his team. Pack the players in tight, and he'll throw it deep. Spread out all over the field, and he can hand the ball to Noel Devine to dance in and out of traffic.

"You use motion and movement," Stewart said. "I want to confuse South Florida. We have to use that stuff to our advantage without giving ourselves up. I don't want to sit there and let them get us in their sights."

Stewart expects wide receiver Bradley Starks to play in Friday's game. Starks jammed his back throwing a block in last weekend's win over Connecticut.

Linebacker Reed Williams is expected to be in the lineup, though maybe not at full strength. The Moorefield native injured his shoulder in the Connecticut game.

"He hits so hard that his shoulders start to hurt," Stewart said. " He just throws his body in there. Pain is pain, and that is a tough thing for Reed. But if anyone can get through it, Reed Williams can get through it."