Suddenly, Trojans can smell roses
NO. 5 USC 38, NOTRE DAME 3
On a day when Oregon State's loss to Oregon puts USC in driver's seat for a fourth straight Rose Bowl appearance, Trojans increase pressure on Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis with another one-sided win over the Irish.
Fifth-ranked USC turned up the heat on Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis, improved to 27-0 in November games under Pete Carroll and learned that it might be headed back to the Rose Bowl on an eventful Saturday night at the Coliseum.
The Trojans' 38-3 victory over the Fighting Irish, coupled with Oregon's victory over Oregon State, put USC in the driver's seat for its fourth consecutive Rose Bowl appearance heading into next week's game against struggling UCLA.
USC improved its record to 10-1 thanks mainly to a defense that turned in its most dominating performance of the season during the first three quarters.
The Trojans intercepted two passes, did not give up a first down, and limited the Fighting Irish to nine yards en route to a 24-0 halftime lead at the Coliseum in the 80th game between the rivals.
Notre Dame finally got a first down on the final play off the third quarter when running back James Aldridge gained 15 yards. The Irish, shut out by the Trojans last year at Notre Dame Stadium, avoided a second consecutive blanking with a fourth-quarter field goal.
By that time, however, the damage was done. The Trojans led, 31-3, making the hot seat occupied by Weis even hotter.
The Irish failed to impress after losing last week at home to Syracuse and finished the regular season 6-6.
USC defensive linemen Fili Moala and Clay Matthews, linebackers Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Kaluka Maiava and cornerback Cary Harris led a unit that held the Irish to minus-six yards rushing in the first half and 91 total yards in the game.
Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen, the former Westlake Village Oaks Christian High star, completed only five of 10 passes for two yards and was sacked three times in the first two quarters. He finished 11 for 22 for 41 yards.
USC's offense was productive if not especially efficient while amassing 449 yards.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez, who had gone three games without an interception, had his first attempt picked off against the Irish. He finished 22 for 31 for 267 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
The Trojans followed a 282-yard rushing performance against Stanford with 175 yards against Notre Dame.
They built their halftime lead on a short touchdown run by Stafon Johnson, a 55-yard touchdown run by Joe McKnight, Sanchez's touchdown pass to Damian Williams and David Buehler's 35-yard field goal.
