Pac-10 Football | Trojans defense buries Beavers
LOS ANGELES - Freshman Everson Griffen and his friends on the USC defense made certain Oregon State never had a chance.
In a 24-3 victory Saturday, Griffen had 3 ½ of USC’s nine sacks, Oregon State was held to 176 yards of total offense, and the 13th-ranked Trojans lived up to their preseason hype for the first time since September.
Although admittedly rusty, John David Booty threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns in his first game since breaking a finger Oct. 6. Fortunately, the Trojans didn’t need much from their offense.
“The game was clearly dominated by what we did defensively, a fantastic night for the guys,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “We came after them early and just kept coming.”
The victory was USC’s 21st straight over the Beavers at the Los Angeles Coliseum, dating back to 1960. It also avenged a 33-31 loss at Oregon State last year.
USC (7-2, 4-2 Pac-10), a near-unanimous No. 1 pick entering the season, probably needs to win its final three games and get some help to earn at least a share of the conference championship for the sixth straight year.
Oregon State had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Beavers averaged 28.3 points in those games.
USC entered with 18 sacks, fewest in the Pac-10, but the Trojans pressured Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield throughout the game, much to the delight of the homecoming crowd of 85,713.
“That’s just embarrassing,” Oregon State guard Roy Schuening said of USC’s sack total. “We were never out of this game, but the offensive line wasn’t there today. I take the blame.”
The Beavers allowed only 17 sacks in their first eight games.