COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Switch Successful for Conway

Curtis Conway, given a chance to play quarterback this spring after starting his college career as a flanker, has been so impressive that he will remain at quarterback, USC Coach Larry Smith said Saturday.

“I’m leaning to a two-quarterback system,” Smith said after an intrasquad scrimmage at USC, indicating that he would alternate Conway and another sophomore, Reggie Perry, next season. “They really won’t compete against each other, but each will go for four or five series. They complement each other. It’s a positive thing. We’ve got two outstanding quarterbacks and there will be a piece of the pie for both of them.”

During Saturday’s 151-play scrimmage, which concluded the second of three weeks of spring drills, Perry threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, completing 10 of 19 passes with two interceptions, and ran for 57 yards and two touchdowns in 10 carries.

Conway, alternating between the first and second teams, threw for 153 yards, completing nine of 17 passes with two interceptions, and ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries.

“We’ll have a very versatile offense and we’ll combine power running, option football and passes,” Smith said.

In January, Conway asked to be given a chance to play quarterback after Todd Marinovich announced that he would give up his final two years of college eligibility.