USC shuts down Arizona State, 28-0
USC FOOTBALL
Trojans win easily despite four turnovers by quarterback Mark Sanchez. Joe McKnight rushes for a career-best 143 yards.
It wasn't pretty.
Far from it.
But eighth-ranked USC remained on track for a Pacific 10 Conference title and possibly more on Saturday by defeating Arizona State, 28-0, at the Coliseum.
College football: A caption in Sunday's Sports section misidentified the USC player shown upending Arizona State kick returner Kyle Williams. The hit was made by Trojans punter Greg Woidneck, not linebacker Christian Tupou.
USC improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play despite the worst performance of quarterback Mark Sanchez's career.
The junior committed four turnovers -- a fumble and three interceptions in the third quarter -- but the Trojans defense preserved its shutout with two blocked field-goal attempts by tackle Fili Moala.
Sanchez, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee last week against Oregon, completed 13 of 26 passes for 179 yards, including a four-yard touchdown pass to receiver Damian Williams. He also rushed for a touchdown as USC took a 21-0 halftime lead.
But the Trojans needed cornerback Kevin Thomas' 46-yard interception return for a touchdown and Moala's blocked kicks to make the score look somewhat impressive against an Arizona State team that suffered its fourth consecutive defeat.
Tailback Joe McKnight rushed for a career-best 143 yards in 11 carries for the Trojans, who gained 386 total yards.
It was USC's first shutout since last season's 38-0 victory at Notre Dame.
Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who overcame an ankle injury suffered last week against California, was 11 of 20 for 126 yards with an interception before he was knocked out of the game late in the third quarter.
The Sun Devils fell to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the Pac-10.
USC scored seemingly with ease on the first possession, moving 72 yards in eight plays and going ahead on Sanchez's one-yard sneak for a 7-0 lead.
Carpenter completed a 39-yard pass to receiver Chris McGaha on the Sun Devils' first play. But that was about as good as it would get for Arizona State.
USC, though, was not much better through the rest of the first quarter and about half of the second.
The Trojans finally got their offense back into gear with an 80-yard drive highlighted by Sanchez's 22-yard pass to receiver Patrick Turner, 29-yard strike to Williams and a four-yard touchdown pass to Williams.
On the ensuing possession, Thomas stepped in front of a Sun Devils receiver, picked off Carpenter's pass and raced 46 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 4:56 remaining in the first half.
The Trojans appeared poised to score again after recovering a fumbled snap. But a fake field goal attempt was foiled when holder Garrett Green was stopped a yard short of a first down at the Arizona State six-yard line.
gary.klein@latimes.com
