USC Trojans News

Southern California 20, Arizona 3
Sat, Sep 23, 2006

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -Southern California coach Pete Carroll is a defensive coordinator at heart.

So Carroll said he wasn't the least bit concerned when his third-ranked Trojans took a 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime Saturday night against the Arizona Wildcats. Nor was he surprised when USC pulled away in the second half for a 20-3 victory, extending their Pac-10 record winning streak to 24 games and setting a record with their 12th straight conference road win.

It wasn't as exhilarating as many of USC's victories last year, when the Trojansblitzed opponents with a high-powered offense. But it made Carroll every bit as happy.

"I love the fact that we're playing defense like this three straight weeks," Carroll said. "We're playing like crazy."

The Trojans (3-0) limited Arizona to 154 yards, including minus-16 yards on 19 rushes. Arizona converted only two of 12 third downs.

"That's awesome consistency and discipline about those guys," Carroll said. "That's a great job by the defense."

The Trojans have allowed 27 points in their first three games. Asked if the defense was carrying the Trojans, Quarterback John David Booty said, "Defense wins championships. If that's the case, I want to have a good 'D' here. If they want to carry us, that's fine with me."

The Wildcats have mustered one touchdown in three games against Division I-A teams.

"We're having a hard time getting into the flow on offense," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. "We have to look at some things and try to get better."

USC dominated its first two opponents, whipping Arkansas 50-14 on the road and defeating then-No. 19 Nebraska 28-10 in Los Angeles. But the Trojans found themselves in a 60-minute fight against the Wildcats (2-2), who lost to Louisiana State 45-3 two weeks ago.

Leading 3-0 at intermission, the Trojans made it 10-0 when Booty hit Dwayne Jarrett for a 3-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter. It was Jarrett's 32nd career touchdown catch, tying the record set by Stanford's Ken Margerum from 1977-80.

Carroll said afterward that Jarrett, who finished with four catches for 36 yards, had injured his shoulder but provided no details.

USC freshman tailback Emmanuel Moody ran for a game-high 130 yards and one touchdown as the Trojans returned to their power-running roots.

"We played SC ball tonight," said Moody, who has emerged from a crowded field of candidates to replace 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

The Trojans gained 381 yards. But they would have been in dire trouble without their defense.

USC made its first stand early in the second quarter, after Arizona created the game's first scoring chance. Wildcat cornerback Antoine Cason intercepted a Booty pass and returned it 17 yards to the Trojans 32. Cason grew up 30 minutes from the USC campus in Long Beach, Calif., but was not recruited by the Trojans, and he vowed last week to prove they made a mistake.

It was Booty's first interception in 79 passes since he succeeded Matt Leinart, who now plays for the Arizona Cardinals and visited with his teammates on the field before the game.

Booty completed 24 of 39 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once.

But Arizona gained only three yards after the turnover, and USC's Lawrence Jackson blocked Nick Folk's 46-yard field-goal attempt.

That set up the first half's lone scoring drive. The Trojans went 47 yards in 10 plays and took a 3-0 lead on Mario Danelo's 35-yard field goal with 8:23 to go in the first half.

"We did shoot ourselves in the foot early, and we need to work on coming out faster," Booty said. "We have a lot of room for improvement."

USC mounted its best drive to open the second half. Starting from their own 20, the Trojans went 80 yards in 10 plays. The biggest play was tailback Moody's 40-yard run, the Trojans' longest from scrimmage this season.

On the drive's 10th play, Booty threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett, who beat Cason in the front corner of the end zone.

After stopping Arizona on the next series, the Trojans drove to Arizona's 8 before the drive stalled and Danelo missed a 26-yard field-goal attempt.

The miss inspired the Wildcats, who drove 54 yards in 12 plays to make it 10-3 on Folk's 43-yard field goal with 14:05 to go in the fourth quarter.

Arizona was 0-for-7 on third-down conversions when the drive began, but Willie Tuitama hit Anthony Johnson for 17 yards on third-and-8 from the Wildcat 22. Later in the same drive, Tuitama threaded a 28-yard pass to Syndric Steptoe on third-and-15 from the Arizona 47.

USC responded with a 10-play, 64-yard drive that ended in Danelo's 33-yard field goal to give the Trojans a 13-3 lead with 9:43 to play.

The Trojans put the game away when Arizona returner Mike Thomas dropped a punt and USC's Dallas Sartz recovered at the Wildcat 9. Moody scored on the next play to make it 20-3.

"I'm really happy about this game," Carroll said. "Our guys held on great. We finished really well."

Other USC Stars:
USC QB John David Booty will be pushing for the BCS Championship in 2007-2008, follow him around with the latest John Booty news, pics of the hottest John David Booty Jerseys and all other John Booty information.

Dwayne Jarrett USC Trojan wide reciever. View Dwayne Jarrett bio as well as complete Dwayne Jarrett stats. Check out the all of the different Dwayne Jarrett Jerseys.

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