Trojans Don’t Let Down, Roll Up 56-7 Victory : USC: Marinovich starts but is pulled for throwing to the wrong receiver. Foley throws for two touchdowns and runs for another against Oregon State.

A letdown seemed almost inevitable for USC Saturday in Parker Stadium, where the Trojans encountered a small-time atmosphere as they tried not to look ahead to games against UCLA and Notre Dame.

But in front of a crowd of only 18,795, the smallest they have drawn in 20 years, the Trojans overwhelmed Oregon State, 56-7, to give Coach Larry Smith his 100th victory as a major college coach in what was easily their most dominant performance of an up-and-down season.

USC (7-2-1 overall, 4-2-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference) ended a string of three inconsistent performances by taking advantage of five turnovers, including four interceptions, and generally having its way against the Beavers.

And the Trojans, it seemed, could sense it coming.

“I know some people on Oregon State and I knew they were having some problems,” USC linebacker Scott Ross said of the Beavers (1-9, 1-5). “I figured we’d come in and do this to them.”

With the notable exception of starting quarterback Todd Marinovich, who completed three of eight passes for 23 yards before he was pulled in the second quarter, several Trojans made significant contributions:

--Backup quarterback Shane Foley threw for 115 yards and two touchdowns, completing all nine of his passes, and ran for 27 yards and another score, possibly putting himself in position to start against UCLA this week.

“That’s pretty doggone good efficiency,” Smith said.

--Tailback Mazio Royster ran for 125 yards and a touchdown in 26 carries, his fourth 100-yard rushing day in six games since he replaced Ricky Ervins in the starting lineup, to help the Trojans control the ball.

--Travis Hannah, a sophomore flanker who caught seven passes for 139 yards and no touchdowns in the Trojans’ first nine games, had six receptions for 102 yards and the first two touchdowns of his career.

“Who would know he came to school on a track scholarship?” Smith said of the Trojans’ fastest player, a state 400-meter champion at Hawthorne High. “He’s made great strides.”

Fast ones, too.

--Curtis Conway, another former Hawthorne High sprinter, returned a punt 71 yards for a second-quarter touchdown, making a terrific fake at midfield that literally brought the Beavers’ punter, Tim Kollas, to his knees.

The Trojans expected Conway to be their answer to Notre Dame’s Raghib (Rocket) Ismail this season, but until Saturday, the former Proposition 48 casualty had done little to justify those expectations.

“We’ve been waiting for a play like that out of him,” Smith said.

--Defensive tackle Matt Willig forced a second-quarter fumble, jarring the ball loose from starting quarterback Fred Schweer. Ross recovered it, setting up a touchdown that gave USC a 28-7 halftime lead.

--Defensive guard Don Gibson belted Schweer as he threw a third-quarter pass that was intercepted and returned 19 yards by backup safety Bruce Luizzi, setting up a 40-yard drive that made it 35-7.

--Freshman cornerback Jason Oliver, who this season has dealt with the deaths of his parents and misdemeanor charges in connection with the alleged sexual assault on a female USC student last summer, returned an interception 66 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.

“We’re very pleased and happy for him,” Smith said.

--Freshman cornerback Mike Salmon intercepted a pass in the end zone, ending the only significant drive by the Beavers, who scored their only touchdown on a 93-yard kickoff return by Dwayne Owens in the second quarter.

All in all, it was a convincing victory for the Trojans, who amassed 426 yards, including 270 on the ground, while limiting the Beavers to 157--only 27 in the first half and only 60 on the ground.

USC dominated from the start.

Six of Oregon State’s eight first-half possessions went three plays and out, and the other two ended in turnovers.

And though his time on the field was limited, Marinovich had a hand in the rout, directing two touchdown drives.

Marinovich started and led the Trojans to a touchdown and 7-0 lead in their third possession, but was replaced by Foley, who played only one series before Smith again brought out Marinovich.

Marinovich led another scoring drive in the second quarter, giving USC a 21-7 lead, but after failing to complete a pass in three attempts in the Trojans’ next series, he was lifted and did not return.

Smith apparently decided to pull him after Marinovich, ignoring an open receiver in the flat, overthrew Conway on a deep route. “I’ve never been pulled out for not throwing in the flat,” Marinovich said. “He wanted me to throw to the fullback, but I saw that Curtis had beaten his man and eight times out of 10, I’ll hit that pass.”

Said Smith: “When things are open, you’ve got to hit them 60 or 70% of the time. If we’re not, we’ve got to find somebody who will.”

That somebody was Foley, who was thankful for the chance.

Was it enough to earn him the start against UCLA?

“It’s not fair to either kid to say right now,” said Smith, who added that his quarterbacks will compete again in practice this week.

Said Marinovich: “I feel like I’m the best guy. I’ve just got to go out and prove it in practice.”

Trojan Notes

USC has won 19 consecutive games against Oregon State since 1967, when the Trojans, with O.J. Simpson at tailback, lost at Corvallis, 3-0. . . . Tailback Ricky Ervins played for the first time since spraining an ankle Sept. 29, carrying twice for 13 yards. He limped off the field after his second carry, but Coach Larry Smith said that he is not seriously injured. . . . In 1970, USC and Washington State drew 14,500 to a game at Spokane. . . . Oregon State’s Dwayne Owens returned six kickoffs for a school-record 237 yards and a touchdown against a team that ranks last in the Pacific 10 Conference in kickoff return coverage.