USC Faces Another ‘Local’ Challenge

After being unable to stop two former Southland running backs in losses to California and Washington the last two weeks, USC is hoping to do a better job today against another Los Angeles product--Arizona’s Charles Levy.

Whereas Cal’s Russell White and the Huskies’ Beno Bryant worked solely as tailbacks, Levy can attack the Trojans (3-6 overall, 2-4 in the Pacific 10) from many positions.

Levy, a 6-foot redshirt freshman from Lynwood High, leads the conference in all-purpose running with an average of 159.5 yards, and has scored nine touchdowns. He has played tailback, wide receiver and quarterback, and averages 26.1 yards on kickoff returns.

He began the season at tailback and has gained 402 yards in 85 carries. He has also caught 17 passes for 274 yards. After former Carson High quarterback George Malauulu suffered a shoulder injury, Levy was moved to quarterback for the Wildcats’ last two games.

Levy, who played quarterback in high school, has completed 14 of 31 passes for 203 yards. He has teamed with tailback Ontiwaun Carter, a freshman from Kennedy High in Granada Hills, to give the Wildcats one of the best option attacks in the Pac-10.

Levy presents a new problem for the Trojans, who last season permitted Arizona quarterback Ronald Veal to come off the bench to score three second-half touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 35-26 victory at the Coliseum.

“The last couple of weeks, they have changed their offense to fit Chuck Levy at quarterback,” USC Coach Larry Smith said. “They have their speed and skill with Levy at quarterback and Carter at tailback. We expect an all-out option attack.”

Carter has rushed for more than 100 yards three times this season, including the last two games. He has gained 542 yards in 92 carries and scored four touchdowns. Fullback Billy Johnson leads the team in rushing with 577 yards in 90 carries and has scored five touchdowns.

Arizona (3-6 and 2-4), which is coming off a 40-27 loss to Washington State, has a young, injury-depleted team.

Wide receiver and kick returner Terry Vaughn is sidelined for the season because of a knee injury suffered against the Cougars. He is the Pac-10’s top punt returner and leads the Wildcats in pass receptions with 21 for 270 yards.

USC leads the series, 15-2, and had won eight in a row before last year’s loss. Arizona’s only other victory over the Trojans was in 1981, when a Larry Smith-coached team upset No. 1 ranked USC, 13-10, at the Coliseum.

Trojan Notes

For the first time this season, Coach Larry Smith will not announce his starting quarterback until the day of the game. Reggie Perry, who suffered a shoulder injury last week against Washington, has started every game this season. However, Rob Johnson, who has replaced Perry in the second half in the last two games, could start and become the first true USC freshman to do so at quarterback.. . . Kicker Cole Ford, a freshman from Tucson who sat out the Washington game because of a hip injury, will play. Nose tackle Mike Hinz also is expected to play after recovering from an injury.