New USC Era Begins With a Whimper

The USC Trojans saw the future without quarterback Rodney Peete Monday.

And it’s filled with zeroes.

Beginning a new season with a new offense, the best USC could manage Monday night at the Coliseum was a couple of field goals and a touchdown by its special teams in losing to the University of Illinois, 14-13.

It was generally assumed the Trojans would have trouble throwing the ball with redshirt freshman Todd Marinovich at quarterback.

What they discovered, however, was that they couldn’t run, either.

Yet despite all its difficulties, USC rode its imposing defense through three quarters to emerge with a 13-0 lead, only to fall apart in the fourth period when Illinois quarterback Jeff George struck for two touchdowns.

“It’s not the end of the world,” said USC coach Larry Smith of the loss, only the third the Trojans have suffered in an opener in 13 years. “Certain parts of our team played well, but I thought overall we were lethargic. We could have thrown better. We could have run better. I thought Illinois played exceptionally well and controlled the line of scrimmage.”

The statistics certainly reflected that. USC had only 79 yards rushing, led by Aaron Emanuel with 32 yards in 15 carries.

Illinois, taking on a USC defense thought to be among the best in the nation, had a net gain of 35 yards on the ground.

But this game was won in the air.

George completed 27 of 43 attempts for 248 yards. Most of that came in the fourth quarter; George had 91 yards passing through three quarters.

George completed a 53-yard scoring pass play to Shawn Wax with six minutes to play, then came back to Steven Williams on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 2:19 to go.

The first touchdown symbolized this night for USC.

George, looking for receiver Mike Bellamy, instead threw in the direction of linebacker Scott Ross.

Ross got a hand on it, but that’s all. The ball slipped through his grasp and continued into the more receptive hands of Wax at the USC 30-yard line.

Defensive back Cleveland Colter got an arm on Wax, but the receiver shook free and raced to the end zone.

Ross was not alone in his frustration. USC defensive back Dwayne Garner had a shot at two, perhaps three, interceptions, but came up empty-handed.

But it was Marcus Hopkins who best symbolized USC this night.

“I could have been Cinderella,” he said softly in the crowded postgame locker room. “Instead, I’m a pumpkin.”

His moment to be Cinderella came in the second quarter of a scoreless game.

Facing a third-and-eight at his own nine-yard line, George faded into the end zone, rolled right and took aim at his wide-open running back, Luke Petraitis.

But George overthrew the ball, lofting it toward a surprised Hopkins.

Hopkins and the ball. No one near him. The end zone five yards away.

Instead, the ball hit him in the face mask and bounced harmlessly to the turf.

“I was just playing my man,” Hopkins said. “Next thing I knew, here it came.

“But I got another chance and I made the most of it.”

That chance came with 10:32 to play in the third quarter.

Faced with a fourth-and-five at the USC 49-yard line, Illinois sent Brian Menkhausen back to punt.

Hopkins broke through the line untouched, blocked the kick, picked up the ball on one bounce at the 37-yard line and raced untouched with a Trojan escort to the end zone.

“It was real easy,” Hopkins said. “We stunted and their guard followed the stunt man. I was wide open.”

And that was the Trojan offense.

Their other points came on field goals of 37 and 36 yards by Quin Rodriguez.

The winning score came on an 80-yard, 10-play drive.

With a first down at the USC 20, Williams faked a sideline pattern, then hooked around Garner, got two steps on him and the ball was there in the end zone.

Faced with the first deficit of his 58-minute career, Marinovich threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage, Henry Jones wrestling the ball away from Marlon Washington.

Marinovich, who completed 14 of 27 for 120 yards, got the ball back for one last drive in the closing minute.

But he stuck with short passes, despite the fact the final seconds were ticking away.

“They were sitting in a three-deep,” he said, “and dropping six guys back. We just wanted to get the ball to our backs and have them run as far as they could. They didn’t run far enough.”

Finally, on the last two plays of the game, Marinovich went deep for the first time all night.

Both passes missed.

The launch of a new era had fizzled.

USC Notes

Scott Lockwood, No. 1 on the USC depth chart at tailback until Sunday, didn’t have a carry Monday night. He suffered a dislocated right thumb running back a punt late in the first quarter and never returned. X-rays will be taken today, but he is expected to be out at least three weeks. . . . Hopkins’ touchdown on a blocked punt marked the first time that has been done by a Trojan since Rod Humenuik ran back a blocked punt 12 yards for a touchdown against Washington 32 years ago. . . . In his three years at USC, Larry Smith is 0-4 against the Big Ten and 0-6 against teams from the Midwest. He has lost to twice to Michigan State, twice to Notre Dame and to Michigan. . . . Fullback Leroy Holt led USC with six receptions, a career high, for 50 yards. . . . Illinois ended a nine-game losing streak against USC. Illinois’ only previous win in the 11 games between the two schools came in 1935.

LABORING DAY

Start has an unexpected finish for Todd Marinovich. Mike Downey’s column. Page 4.

COMING HOME

Steve Williams keeps up an L.A. family tradition at Illinois. Story, Page 4.