No. 1 USC shocked by Oregon State, 27-21

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Top-ranked USC's road to a Bowl Championship Series title game appearance took a major detour tonight.

Down three touchdowns at halftime, USC rallied furiously in the second half yet fell to Oregon State, 27-21, before a national television audience and 42,839 at Reser Stadium.

It was the third time in the USC's last three visits here that Oregon State gave USC fits -- and the second time the Beavers have upset a top-ranked team, the other coming in 1967 when they beat the Trojans and O.J. Simpson, 3-0.

The Trojans narrowly escaped in 2004 and then fell short after big rally in a 33-31 loss here two years ago.

The big play Thursday was turned in by Oregon State safety Greg Laybourn, who intercepted a pass from Mark Sanchez intended for Damian Williams at the USC 30 and returned it to the two-yard line with 2 minutes 43 seconds left.

On the next play, Beavers tailback Jacquizz Rodgers barreled in from two yards out and Oregon State had a 27-14 lead after the extra-point attempt hit the right crossbar and fell to the side.

USC struck right back, with a 14-yard scoring pass from Sanchez to Patrick Turner with 1:20 left. But the Trojans' onside kick was covered by Oregon State's Taylor Kavanaugh and the Beavers ran out the clock.

"I'm really proud of our kids and our coaches," Oregon State Coach Mike Riley said. ". . . It's a great, great win against a great team."

Oregon State (2-2), a 25 1/2 -point underdog, built a 21-0 halftime lead against a Trojans defense that was surrendering a nation-low five points a game.

But USC (2-1), playing its Pacific 10 Conference opener, nearly erased the deficit.

Sanchez, who struggled to elude pressure throughout the first two quarters, came out firing in the second half and quickly pulled the Trojans to within seven points with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Johnson and 29-yard strike to Williams.

But Oregon State held off the charge.

Oregon State's Rodgers, a 5-foot-6 freshman, rushed for 117 yards in the first half and finished with 186 yards and two touchdown in 37 carries.

Beavers quarterback Lyle Moevao, a junior from North Torrance High and El Camino College, completed 18 of 27 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

Sanchez completed 18 of 29 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.

Oregon State set the tone early, forcing USC to punt on the game's first possession and then launching a 60-yard scoring march.