USC runs win streak to 15

By Gary Klein of The Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — So much for the letdown theory.

A week after its heart-stopping victory over California, USC showed Saturday that it was anything but emotionally drained by the experience.

The top-ranked Trojans were sharp from the start and dismantled previously unbeaten, 15th-ranked Arizona State with their most impressive victory of the season, a 45-7 rout in front of a sellout crowd of 90,211 at the Coliseum.

“Everybody has been waiting for it, and it finally happened,” said USC defensive tackle Shaun Cody, who blocked a field-goal attempt and recorded one of the Trojans’ eight sacks. “We showed the kind of ball we can play when we’re all clicking.”

Though Coach Pete Carroll exhorts his team to finish strong, this game was over by halftime as Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart passed for four touchdowns and rushed for another to put himself back at the forefront of Heisman Trophy discussion.

On a cool and overcast day, USC improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference by erupting for four touchdowns in the second quarter — three on passes to freshman split end Dwayne Jarrett. The Trojans led, 42-7, at halftime and cruised the rest of the way en route to their 15th consecutive victory, their 18th win in a row at home and their 10th straight conference win.

“We feel like we’re just getting started,” senior cornerback Kevin Arbet said.

USC’s performance is sure to erase some of the doubts that were evident last week when the Trojans lost eight first-place votes in the Associated Press poll after sputtering offensively and playing just well enough defensively to hold off Cal. The first bowl championship series standings will come out Monday, and the Trojans do not expect a controversy about their place.

“Everyone’s kind of jumped off the bandwagon because we’re not blowing every team out, but it doesn’t matter to us,” said Leinart, who completed 13 of 24 passes for 224 yards without an interception in three quarters. “We know we’re a good team, and we know how good we can be. We haven’t even reached our potential yet.”

USC ruined a potentially glorious day for Arizona State (5-1, 2-1), which was off to its best start since 1996, the year quarterback Jake Plummer led the Sun Devils to the Rose Bowl and the brink of a national title.

“They’ve been a well-functioning football team, and it just didn’t matter today—it just didn’t matter,” Carroll said.

USC limited Arizona State to zero yards rushing in the first half and harassed strong-armed quarterback Andrew Walter throughout the game.

“I didn’t think we would get totally stoned in the running game in the first half,’’ Arizona State Coach Dirk Koetter said. “We weren’t able to get two inches.”

Walter, a fifth-year senior, had entered the game with 15 touchdown passes and one interception. But with USC blitzing from numerous angles, USC linebacker Matt Grootegoed and safety Darnell Bing each picked off passes.

“We basically self-destructed and they kicked us around the field all day,’’ said Walter, who finished 19 for 34 for 181 yards but did not complete a pass longer than 20 yards.

Meanwhile, the Trojan offense showed it could still be formidable despite the absence of flanker Steve Smith, the team’s leading receiver who broke his leg against Cal.

LenDale White accounted for 68 of USC’s 145 yards rushing and the Trojans outgained the Sun Devils, 446-243.

“We were able to run the ball a little bit—that always softens things up—and we tried to take advantage of the press corners,” offensive coordinator Norm Chow said.

The 6-foot-5 Jarrett, who turned 18 last month, had his way with Arizona State’s smaller defensive backs and finished with five receptions for 139 yards. Leinart—who described the mismatches as “like taking candy from a baby”—connected with Jar-rett on scoring plays of 19 and 34 yards.

Reggie Bush, who lined up the majority of the time as a receiver, also connected with Jarrett for a 52-yard scoring play off a reverse.

“Dwayne right now is getting over the hump,” Carroll said. “He’s not just out there competing, he’s making plays.”

USC scored on its first possession on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Leinart to Bush and extended the lead to 14-0 on Leinart’s nine-yard pass to White with 1:10 remaining in the first quarter.

The Trojans began to roll in the second quarter after Grootegoed returned an interception 41 yards to the Sun Devil 19-yard line, setting up Jarrett’s first touchdown catch one play later.

“At that point, I think a little doubt (crept) in, and you can’t do that against a team like USC,” Koetter said.

The Sun Devils appeared as if they might make a game of it on the ensuing possession when they took advantage of Bush’s fumble on a punt return. Hakim Hill scored to cut the deficit to 21-7 with 7:49 remaining in the first half, but that was as close as Arizona State would get.