Arizona State Must Defeat USC Today to Remain on Top

The Pacific 10 football race has been sort of a king-of-the-mountain game so far this season--and the king doesn’t stay on top very long.

UCLA was the preseason choice to win the championship, but the Bruins lost stature when they were blown out by Oklahoma in an opening game, 38-3.

Washington then became the favorite with impressive victories over Ohio State and BYU, only to be upset by USC.

USC and Arizona were the next front-runners but were beaten last week by Washington State and UCLA, respectively.

So a new leader has emerged, Arizona State, the only unbeaten team in the conference with a 2-0-1 record, 4-0-1 overall.

The Sun Devils will try to protect their standing today against USC (2-1 and 4-1) at the Coliseum.

This will be the third straight road game for the Sun Devils, and if they beat the Trojans, they will be in a strong position to win the title.

“It’s the biggest game we’ve played to date,” Coach John Cooper said. “And if we win, look out. I’m not saying we have the title wrapped up, because anything can happen. But if we win this one, we come home for four games and I like our chances.”

Cooper may be overlooking the fact that Arizona State’s problems usually occur after it has beaten USC, which the Sun Devils have done four times in six meetings.

The score card:

--Arizona State upset USC, 20-7, in the first meeting between the schools in 1978, then lost two of its next three games.

--ASU beat USC in 1982, 17-10, and again lost two of its next three games.

--In 1983, the Sun Devils routed the Trojans at the Coliseum, 34-14, and were chanting, “Rose Bowl! Rose Bowl!” in the locker room. ASU lost its next three games.

--Last year, ASU shut out USC at Tempe, Ariz., 24-0, then was routed by UCLA, 40-17.

Arizona State had the Rose Bowl bid almost in its grasp, though, when USC upset UCLA at the end of the regular season. The Sun Devils only had to tie traditional rival Arizona but couldn’t do it, losing, 16-13, in the closing minutes. The Bruins said thanks and went to the Rose Bowl.

The Sun Devils have yet to get to Pasadena on Jan. 1 since joining the conference in 1978 but have exorcised some demons this year by beating UCLA for the first time two weeks ago, 16-9.

“The road to the Rose Bowl runs through Bruin and Trojan land,” Cooper proclaimed after that game.

That’s a fair assessment. For sure, the Trojans have had a devil of a time with the Sun Devils. USC’s two wins in the series have been by a total of only five points.

Solid is the word for Arizona State this season. Cooper says his defense is the overall strength of the team, and USC Coach Ted Tollner concurs.

“It will be the best defensive team we’ve seen this year,” Tollner said. “They have size in their down linemen with overall experience and speed.”

Cooper has one of the nation’s best outside linebackers in Scott Stephen, a product of Manual Arts High near the USC campus. He also has experience, in alternating nose guards 261-pound Larry McGlothen and 290-pound Dan Saleaumua and a proven secondary.

Cornerback Anthony Parker, who leads the Pac-10 in punt returns, didn’t make the trip, though. He has a swelling in his right leg.

Tollner said that ASU’s offense is similar to USC’s and Washington’s--I power attack with play action and straight-back passing.

Arizona State has two quick tailbacks in Darryl Harris and Paul Day. Harris is the Pac-10’s third-leading rusher, averaging 80 yards a game.

Quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst, a fifth-year senior, has completed 78.4% of his passes in the last two games and hasn’t thrown an interception. Cooper said the passing scheme was modified after Van Raaphorst threw five interceptions in a 21-21 tie with Washington State Sept. 27.

Arizona State has the look of a Rose Bowl team, but only visiting rights have been granted to those in first place so far.

Trojan Notes A crowd of 60,000 is anticipated for USC’s homecoming game. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. . . . Arizona State has fumbled only four times this season, losing one. USC has lost 13 of 15 fumbles. Aaron Emanuel, who will start at tailback today, has lost five fumbles. But Coach Ted Tollner says he is doing the right things in practice in trying protect the ball. “I’m not frantic about it, but if we’re going to stay in the Rose Bowl race, we can’t turn the ball over,” Tollner said. . . . USC has had 11 turnovers the last two games. Quarterback Rodney Peete was responsible for three against WSU with two interceptions and a fumble. . . . Peete ranks third in total offense in the Pac-10, averaging 222.2 yards a game. . . . Rod Dedeaux, USC’s baseball coach for 45 years before retiring, will be honored at halftime today. . . . Oregon Coach Rich Brooks on Arizona State after his team lost to the Sun Devils last week, 37-17: “You just can’t find a weakness in their defense. You can’t find a crease to run in and if you throw the ball, you’re going to have three to four guys rallying to the ball and rattling you around.” . . . ASU ranks eighth nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 12.8 points a game, and 10th in total defense, yielding 262.2 yards a game. . . . Fourteen of ASU’S starters are from California, with a majority from Southern California. . . . Jeff Joseph, a junior from Manual Arts, will replace Anthony Parker at cornerback for Arizona State today.