It’s a 103 Heat Wave in Southland: UCLA (40-17), USC (63-0) Romp : Oregon State Is Just What Trojans Needed

It was the worst of times for the Oregon State Beavers. In the best of times, they don’t stand much of a chance of beating USC.

Circumstances conspired against them Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum.

Oregon State was confronting a USC team that had lost two straight games and was looking for someone, anyone to beat. It was also Homecoming for USC.

Moreover, Oregon State had already lost its starting quarterback, Erik Wilhelm. So, you get the drift.

The Trojans did the rest, routing the Beavers, 63-0, before a crowd of 50,624 on a warm, humid afternoon.

It wasn’t just a beating. It was more like a mugging. Oregon State Coach Dave Kragthorpe called it a “total disaster.”

The Trojans generally looked upon the game as a stepping stone to better things. They’re now 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Pacific 10. Oregon State is 2-3 and and 1-1.

It was the most points USC has scored since it rolled up 70 against Washington State in 1970. And the 63-point spread was the largest margin of victory since a Howard Jones team splattered Montana, 69-0, in 1931. One more negative statistic: It was the Beavers’ worst loss since the school began playing the game in 1893, topping a 61-0 runaway for UCLA in 1954.

USC had scored only four touchdowns in three previous games, none by rushing. The Trojans improved on that statistic against the accommodating Beavers, who have now lost 15 straight games to USC.

USC led, 28-0, at halftime and didn’t let up, although Coach Ted Tollner emptied his bench, giving seldom-used players an opportunity to get into a game.

The Trojans scored on drives of 80, 45, 64, 28, 54, 41 and 50 yards. They also got a 28-yard touchdown on a pass interception by cornerback Junior Thurman and a gift touchdown late in the game that they didn’t really need. OSU’s Robert Adams couldn’t handle a punt, losing it to USC on the Beaver two-yard line.

Tollner had been concerned about his running game, the strength of the team. USC lost five fumbles in a 24-0 loss to Arizona State a week ago Saturday night.

The Trojan running backs not only held on to the ball, they squeezed it. No turnovers. Tailback Aaron Emanuel said that Tollner stressed this ball-control principle all week in practice.

It was a productive afternoon for the running backs. Fred Crutcher, the starting tailback, scored on runs of two and eight yards while gaining 80 yards in 12 carries.

Emanuel, a freshman, contributed 78 yards in 16 carries, while Ryan Knight had 57 in 11 attempts and fullback Kennedy Pola 61 in 7, including a rumbling run of 37 yards. And so it went.

Oregon State’s offense has been called the Air Express, so named because Kragthorpe, the new coach, was a former offensive coordinator at BYU.

The Air Express never got off the ground as freshman Rich Gonzales, replacing the injured Wilhelm, was sacked six times for 61 yards in losses. He managed to complete only 11 of 24 passes for 94 yards, while OSU’S All-Conference receiver, Reggie Bynum, was limited to 7 catches for 70 yards. He had caught seven touchdown passes in four previous games.

USC’s passing game was much more efficient. Quarterback Sean Salisbury completed 9 of 13 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns--a four-yard throw to tight end Erik McKee and a 22-yard pass to freshman Gene Arrington, who made a sliding catch in the corner of the end zone.

Rodney Peete, a redshirt freshman, replaced Salisbury in the third quarter and got on the board with scoring passes of 12 and 2 yards to Al Washington and Joe Cormier.

USC’s defense harassed Gonzales continually, and the Beavers often had to punt from inside their own 20-yard line, setting up favorable field position for the Trojans.

“We just needed a win,” Tollner said. “We couldn’t be concerned with what stage our opponent’s program is at. We needed to play a solid football game and take advantage of scoring opportunities--things that were getting us beaten before.”

Tollner was aware that Oregon State’s football program is not on the same level as USC’s, but he believes that when the level of competition increases, the Trojans will be ready for it.

“I can’t remember a worse day,” Kragthorpe said. “Everything totally fell apart. I need to get our staff together, talk with them and make some decisions on people. Strategy and coaching decisions had nothing to do with it today. We were totally outplayed and outclassed by a good, strong football team.”

Crutcher said the one-sided win was a good boost to get the team rolling again. He also said that he was just relieved when he scored USC’s first rushing touchdown of the season in the first quarter.

As for his understudy, Emanuel, Crutcher said: “The day he came in, I said that he was going to be in pro football. He is so big and strong.”

Emanuel, who made his USC debut in the Arizona State game, said that he had butterflies in the first half when he replaced Crutcher, but added that he felt comfortable later.

Offensive tackle James FitzPatrick and guard Tom Hallock, both veterans who open up the holes for the running backs, agreed that Crutcher doesn’t get his due recognition.

They also said that Crutcher is still bothered by a sore left shoulder that required surgery for removal of calcium deposits last spring.

“Freddie doesn’t seem to get any respect, but look where he is on the all-time rushing list. Only some Heisman Trophy winners are ahead of him,” FitzPatrick said.

Crutcher is seventh on the all-time USC rushing list with 2,483 yards. Charles White, Marcus Allen, Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell, O.J. Simpson and Mike Garrett are ahead of him. White, Allen, Simpson and Garrett were Heisman winners.

Hallock: “Freddie seldom makes a mistake, like running the wrong way. You open up a hole, and he goes through it.”

Crutcher blasted for 20 yards on USC’s first play of the game, and the offensive linemen breathed a collective sigh of relief. They seemed to sense that this was going to be the day that the running game resulted in some touchdowns. FitzPatrick doesn’t see any reason why USC shouldn’t go undefeated the rest of the season, adding that he believes the team has better personnel than Baylor and Arizona State, teams that upset the Trojans.

As for Emanuel, FitzPatrick said: “It was nice to look downfield and see him gaining five yards while dragging some guys with him.”

Of course, the blowout has to be tempered by the fact that the Beavers are technically in USC’s league but on a performance level, certainly aren’t. In the last six meetings, USC has outscored Oregon State, 270 points to 44.

It was Homecoming for USC alumni, but a sad homecoming for Gonzales, the beleaguered OSU quarterback from Diamond Bar High School.

One sensed that it wouldn’t be his day when he completed a pass to his center , Jack Lester, on Oregon State’s first series.

Curiously, Lester never figured in the passing offense the rest of the afternoon.

The only serious injury incurred by the Trojans was to John Guerrero, a reserve offensive guard. He’ll have arthroscopic surgery today for ligament damage to his left knee.

USC is idle next week. The Beavers have to keep on playing.