USC Sputters but Still Defeats Stanford, 19-0

Todd Marinovich moved past his uncle on USC’s pass completion chart and the defense returned to form as the 10th-ranked Trojans sputtered past Stanford 19-0 Saturday and extended their Pacific 10 Conference winning streak to 17.

Marinovich, a redshirt freshman, completed 22 of 32 passes for 303 yards, with two interceptions. After completing a 36-yarder to John Jackson late in the game, Marinovich was replaced by Shane Foley.

With 159 completions, Marinovich moved past his uncle, Craig Fertig, into 12th place on USC’s all-time list. Fertig had 151 completions.

The Trojans (6-2 overall, 4-0 in the Pac-10) equaled the school record for conference winning streaks, set in 1930-33 and matched in 1972-74. Stanford is 1-7, 1-3.

While misfiring offensively, the Trojans bounced back from their 28-24 loss at Notre Dame in which they allowed 266 yards rushing and four touchdowns. USC held Stanford to 134 yards in total offense.

Ricky Ervins, who gained 100 yards, and Leroy Holt rushed for touchdowns and Quin Rodriguez kicked two field goals.

USC had a first down just inside the Stanford 20 on each of its first three drives but came away with only a 3-0 lead.

Marinovich hooked up with Gary Wellman on long passes to keep the first two drives alive but Rodriguez missed two field goal attempts. His first, from 42 yards, bounced off the crossbar. Then he was wide with a 37-yarder. Rodriguez finally made a 28-yarder 1:32 into the second quarter.

Ervins scored on a 9-yard run with 6:55 left in the first half to cap a 94-yard drive highlighted by Marinovich’s 25-yard pass to Jackson.

The Trojans then lost excellent scoring chances as Marinovich was intercepted twice. Rob Englehardt had an interception at the Stanford 1 and returned it to the 18 and Jimmy Klein picked one off in the end zone after Albert Richardson tipped the ball.

Marinovich led the Trojans on a 16-play, 58-yard drive to open the second half but they had to settle for a 25-yard field goal from Rodriguez for a 13-0 lead. Holt scored on a 5-yard in the fourth quarter but Marinovich’s conversion pass was intercepted.

Stanford’s best scoring chance was early in the fourth quarter. Steve Smith threw a 43-yard pass to Ed McCaffrey to the USC 17. The drive stalled when Smith threw incompletions on third and fourth downs.