USC’s Jake Harfman steps into new role as punter

Jake Harfman finally started doing double duty and it paid off for USC on Saturday night in its 27-6 victory over Washington State at the Coliseum.

Harfman, a transfer from Mt. San Antonio College, has handled kickoffs all season, but Coach Pete Carroll installed him at punter in place of Billy O’Malley, who was averaging 37.3 yards a punt.

Harfman punted three times and averaged 46.3 yards a kick.

But his biggest play came in the first quarter after the Trojans took a 13-0 lead on Matt Barkley’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Brice Butler.

Instead of kicking it deep, Harfman rolled an onside kick and recovered the ball before it hit a Washington State player.

USC took possession on its own 43-yard line, and Barkley then connected with Damian Williams for a 57-yard scoring play that made the score 20-0.

Fangupo injured

USC defensive lineman Hebron Fangupo was carted from the field with a leg injury after assisting on a tackle with 5:56 left in the first half.

Fangupo was bent over backward under a pile of players.

Campbell starts

Linebacker Jordan Campbell fared well in his first start -- while it lasted.

The third-year sophomore from Corona was in the lineup at the weak-side spot in place of Malcolm Smith, who suffered a high ankle sprain last week against Washington.

Campbell had seven tackles in the first half but suffered what was initially diagnosed as a sprained ankle in the third quarter.

Scoring drought

The last time Washington State scored against USC it was with 5 minutes 31 seconds left in the third quarter . . . on Sept. 22, 2007.

It came on a 20-yard pass from Alex Brink to Culver City High product Michael Bumpus.

USC shutout the Cougars, 69-0, last year.

Always Tardy

Dwight Tardy, a senior from Walnut, could become the first Washington State player to lead the Cougars in rushing for four consecutive seasons.

He carried 16 times for 44 yards and a two-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left that broke USC’s shutout.

Tardy, a graduate of Santa Fe Springs St. Paul, had moderate success against the Trojans during his career.

As a freshman in 2006, Tardy gained 62 yards in 11 carries and scored a touchdown on a 10-yard touchdown pass that pulled the Cougars to within 28-22 in the fourth quarter.

But Taylor Mays’ interception on a Hail Mary pass preserved the victory for the Trojans at Pullman, Wash.

At the Coliseum two years ago, Tardy gained only 27 yards in 11 carries in a 47-14 defeat.

Tardy did not play in last season’s 69-0 loss to the Trojans at Pullman.

Miscellany

USC leads the series against Washington State, 57-8-4. . . . The victory made the Trojans 163-39-8 in September games and 135-34-4 in night games.

--

gary.klein@latimes.com

twitter.com/latimesklein

Times staff writer Mike Hiserman also contributed to this report.