Fullback Havili says he’s haunted by his mistakes

Coming off their bounce-back victory over Oregon State, USC players bounded enthusiastically about the practice field Monday and emerged later from their locker room in the same good spirits.

Fullback Stanley Havili, however, was solemn.

“It’s been a rough past couple of games,” the redshirt freshman said. “It’s hard to let go of things.”

Havili was still beating himself up for not catching a fourth-quarter pass from quarterback John David Booty that looked as if it would result in a touchdown and help the Trojans’ offense avert a second-half shutout.

Havili also said it was tough to forget his fumble two weeks ago against Oregon, which led to a touchdown that broke a 10-10 and sent the Ducks on their way to victory.

“Players have a lot of pride,” Havili said. “In high school, you never do anything wrong. When you get here the stakes are higher. Literally, the whole world is watching.”

Havili was expected to play a pivotal role for the offense after missing most of last season because of a broken leg.

He lived up the billing early in the season, catching a touchdown pass against Idaho in the season opener, breaking off a 50-yard run and scoring twice against Nebraska, and then scoring a touchdown against Washington State.

But Havili’s struggles began against Washington, when he failed to haul in several catchable passes in the Trojans’ close-call victory at Seattle.

Havili caught a touchdown pass against Notre Dame before committing the costly turnover at Oregon.

Then came the missed pass Saturday.

Havili finished with one reception for zero yards against Oregon State.

“I think when coaches aren’t using me as much, it took a toll mentally,” he said.

Havili says he intends to finish the season strong, starting Saturday at California.

“I know I have to be able to put things behind me and leave them there,” he said.

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Freshman defensive end Everson Griffen said he had turned his attention to Cal rather than basking in his standout performance against Oregon State.

Griffen had 3 1/2 of the Trojans’ season-high nine sacks. It was the most sacks by a USC player since Tim Ryan had four against UCLA in 1989.

Over the weekend, Griffen received numerous congratulatory text messages and phone calls from family and friends in Arizona.

“It’s just good showing the coaches and, I guess, like the United States of America, what I can do,” Griffen said.

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Tailback Chauncey Washington, who averaged five yards a carry against Oregon State, was unaware that the Beavers had come into the game first in the nation in rushing defense.

“I was just running hard. . . . Every time I got an opportunity I took advantage of it,” said Washington, who gained 60 yards in 12 carries and rushed for a touchdown.

Washington also said he was unaware that the 26-yard touchdown pass play he scored on was the first touchdown reception of his career.

Stafon Johnson got only six carries against Oregon State, but said he was not frustrated. Johnson, who is playing with a foot sprain, said the plan was to “not really throw me [to] the wolves just yet. . . . I needed that little work to get into it and now it’s just time to go hard the rest of the season.”

Johnson ran without noticeable discomfort at practice and said, “It’s the best Monday I’ve had in like six weeks.”

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After reviewing tape of the Oregon State game, Booty said his evaluation was the same as the one he offered afterward on the field.

Several passes were dropped, but Booty also missed several completions because he threw the ball high in his first start since suffering a broken right middle finger Oct. 6 against Stanford.

“I don’t want to make excuses or anything. I’ve got to make those throws,” he said.

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Redshirt freshman Butch Lewis and sophomore Charles Brown split first-team snaps at left tackle. Both could play if Sam Baker sits out a second consecutive game. . . . Freshman running back Broderick Green, who is redshirting, was back in a protective boot after re-injuring his surgically repaired left foot.

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gary.klein@latimes.com