USC’s Perry Is Sacked on Final Drive for Glory

Perhaps, as much as he wanted a victory, USC quarterback Reggie Perry hoped the Trojans’ final drive against UCLA on Saturday at the Coliseum might bring him forgiveness.

Not from himself, certainly. Perry, a sophomore from Denison, Tex., has remained upbeat while serving as quarterback for one of the worst teams in USC’s history. With Saturday’s 24-21 loss to UCLA, the 1991 Trojans became the first USC team to lose six consecutive games.

Although Perry hasn’t been at the controls for the entire losing streak, many Trojan supporters have blamed him as USC has struggled through a 3-8 season.

Throughout the year Perry has been booed at the Coliseum, and Saturday was no exception. As USC fell behind, 17-0, in the first half, Perry was booed again. His teammates wonder how he stands it.

“Sometimes I don’t know how he does it,” said receiver Johnnie Morton, Perry’s roommate. “If I was booed, I don’t know how I’d handle it. He has never showed that it gets to him. He’s strong inside.”

Perry’s inner strength has swayed few Trojan fans this season, but as he led the Trojans into UCLA territory in the closing minutes on a drive that started at the USC four-yard line, redemption seemed at hand.

Winning drives in the closing minutes are part of USC lore. Trojan fans might have mixed feelings about Todd Marinovich now, but few doubted him after he led USC to the winning touchdown in last year’s 45-42 victory over the Bruins.

So the opportunity was there for Perry with USC trailing by three points, 96 yards from the UCLA end zone. After Estrus Crayton’s 10-yard run gave USC a first down at the Trojan 14, Perry passed nine yards to tight end Yonnie Jackson for a first down on second and six from the 18.

Four plays later, with USC facing third and 16 at its 35, Perry connected with Travis Hannah on a 23-yard pass play for a first down at the Bruin 42 with little more than two minutes left.

But on a fourth and five at the Bruin 37, Perry was sacked, fumbled and USC had lost again.

“I really felt good on that last drive,” Perry said. “It was like a snowball effect. We got the momentum going, and I was feeding on that. But I can’t get sacked with the ball in that situation. It was my fault for not getting rid of it.”

Perry finished with mediocre numbers. He completed 13 of 28 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns and threw one interception. He also scored USC’s other touchdown on a one-yard run.

His best moments in a streaky game came from the end of the second quarter to the first play of the final quarter. USC scored on three of four possessions with Perry connecting with Curtis Conway on a 13-yard scoring play shortly before halftime, and with Jackson on a six-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Not bad for a quarterback who threw only one touchdown pass all season before Saturday.

Perry realizes he faces a fight from freshman Rob Johnson for the quarterback job next year. Perry finished the season with 131 completions in 255 attempts for 1,574 yards. But he threw 12 interceptions and only three touchdown passes.

Despite the losing record, the so-so numbers and the boos from the crowd, Perry wants to lead USC next season.

“I’ve had my down times. I always have my down times,” he said. “But I can’t hang my head. I want to be the man next year.”