USC leads Washington State, 41-0, at halftime
USC FOOTBALL
Mark Sanchez ties school record with five touchdown passes as Trojans score on their first six possessions.
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Mark Sanchez tied a school record by passing for five touchdowns as sixth-ranked USC overmatched struggling Washington State en route to a 41-0 halftime lead in a Pacific 10 Conference game on Saturday at Martin Stadium.
USC, a 42 1/2-point favorite, scored on its first six possessions and ran out the clock rather than trying for a touchdown or field goal at the end of the second quarter.
Sanchez bounced back strong after fumbling and having three passes intercepted last week against Arizona State.
The junior from Mission Viejo completed 15 of 20 passes for 253 yards and threw two touchdown passes to receiver Patrick Turner, two to receiver Ronald Johnson and one to tight end Anthony McCoy.
Sanchez tied the record for touchdown passes in a game that was shared by Rodney Peete, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.
USC amassed 408 yards and held Washington State to 17.
USC took the opening possession and drove 77 yards in five plays with Sanchez and Turner connecting for a 23-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Sanchez and Turner then hooked up on a 14-yard scoring play before Sanchez found Johnson from three yards out to take 21-0 first-quarter lead.
Tailback C.J. Gable ran for a 17-yard touchdown and Sanchez and Johnson connected for a 16-yard scoring play to make the score, 34-0, with 7 minutes 49 seconds left in the first half.
USC cornerback Josh Pinkard forced a fumble that end Gerald Washington recovered, setting up Sanchez's 21-yard touchdown pass to McCoy.
gary.klein@latimes.com
