This Chance Is Enough for Crayton

Cardinal And Gold Men Can’t Run.

Trojan Tailbacks: The Tradition Stops Here.

USC’s rushing attack--last in the Pac-10.

Estrus Crayton had heard it all, seen it all. As the starting tailback at the University of Sweeps and Counters, Crayton knew where he stood--directly in the shadow of Arnett and Garrett, O.J. and A.D., Marcus and Charles, Ricky Bell and Ricky Ervins.

He knew where he wasn’t standing, too--in the end zone, which hadn’t been visited by a Trojan running back since last Nov. 16.

An average of 75 yards per game after the first four weeks of the 1992 season.

An average of 3.8 yards per carry.

A season-long run of 19 yards.

Those were Crayton’s numbers--and that was Crayton’s number on the USC sideline Saturday as the sun set over the Coliseum, with the Trojans trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter and a freshman named Dwight McFadden taking pitchouts that used to belong to him.

Crayton got there by his own doing. By what he wasn’t doing. Larry Smith gave Crayton the ball 11 times in the first half and then had to measure the forward progress in inches.

Crayton netted 20 yards, or 1.8 yards per carry, or 65 inches per carry. Quarterback sneak left was outproducing student body right.

So there Crayton was, alone with his thoughts, wondering if Santa Ana High School to Rancho Santiago College to USC was all that great a career move, when Trojan running backs coach Wayne Nunnely tapped him on the shoulder.

Down by 11 with 11:31 to play, USC had to pass the ball.

Get on in there, Crayton was told, and block some defensive ends.

“I said to myself, ‘This is it,’ ” Crayton said. “I took it upon myself to either win the game or loss the game. I felt it was all on my shoulders. This was my second chance.”

And from there, it was all a run to daylight and a beeline to glory, right?

First carry by Crayton, second time around: Snuffed at the line of scrimmage. No gain.

First USC series with Crayton, second time around: Three downs and out.

It might have ended with that, too, until California, in a curious piece of strategy, handed the ball to Marty Holly, a second-string fullback, on second down at the Golden Bear 31. It was the second time Holly had touched the ball all day, and he barely touched it at all. A split-second later, it was bouncing on the grass and into the arms of Trojan linebacker Jeff Kopp.

Thirty-two yards to the goal line.

Kyle Wachholtz, the Trojan third stringer, was in at quarterback.

It was either Crayton now . . . or never let Cal back inside the building.

Crayton off right tackle for four yards. Hmmm.

Crayton off right tackle again for four more yards. More than a coincidence?

Crayton around right end, this time for nine yards.

Two plays later, USC had the ball, first and goal at the two, and Crayton got the ball again.

Touchdown, USC. For the first time in 19 1/2 quarters this season--294 minutes of football--a Trojan running back had landed on the painted grass.

That was nice, but it was going to be nothing more than a footnote unless the Golden Bears did something wildly foolish--like throw the ball on a short dropback on third and eight from their own 22 with less than five minutes to play.

David Webb, USC’s defensive tackle by way of Irvine High School, couldn’t believe his eyes. Raw quarterback meat, barely an arm’s length away.

Webb plowed into Cal quarterback Dave Barr from behind, spun him around and sent the ball twirling into the hands of linebacker Donn Cunnigan, who returned it to the Golden Bear 14.

Crayton would get three more carries.

The first was buried. No gain.

The second was a pitch back from the eight-yard line and cut back inside. Six yards.

The third was a dive over right guard.

Touchdown.

Pointless for September and half of October, Crayton had scored twice in four minutes.

Just as amazing, USC had the lead, 27-24, a lead it would soon sneak away with, disappearing beyond the peristyle and into the night.

“I got a second chance,” Crayton said. “I wasn’t going to let it get away from me. I was kind of frustrated--no touchdowns in four games? Hey, you should have five or six touchdowns, maybe more, after four games.

“That was our goal this game: To get one of our running backs into the end zone.”

Lofty it wasn’t, but these are depressed times at USC. Once, Trojan tailbacks knew the end zone so well, they could tell you the grass type and provide a soil analysis. Now, they exult and rejoice just by renewing the acquaintance.

“I just knew I had to take control,” Crayton said. “I’m never satisfied, but one of the things that had been bothering me this year was that I wasn’t making the big play. I’m a big-play back. I know I can do it. It was just a matter of getting out there and doing it.”

Take control? Crayton’s final stats for the day hardly fit the description--47 yards in 21 attempts. Forty-seven yards used to be a so-so quarter for Marcus Allen.

But a big-play back? Crayton had that right. The big play was back, and so were the Trojans, now 3-1-1 after the 3-8 disaster that was 1991.

It’s a step forward.

All USC needs now is for Crayton to keep taking them.