COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : USC : Johnson’s Consistency Was the Key

Junior quarterback Rob Johnson’s passing performance--21 of 26 for 392 yards--against Washington State Saturday night not only set a school single-game yardage record but his completion percentage, 80.8%, was the best by a USC quarterback since Rodney Peete completed 85% against Stanford in 1987.

Johnnie Morton, the senior wide receiver who caught eight passes for 229 yards Saturday, now needs only 18 more yards to become USC’s all-time reception leader.

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Although the Trojans’ passing game rolled up a school-record 413 yards, running backs gained only 104.

“(The running game) hasn’t come around, and I’m worried about it,” Coach John Robinson said.

“We lost our most experienced back (Dwight McFadden) for the season in the first game, two offensive linemen (Joel Crisman and Kris Pollack) have been hurt and (tight end) Brad Banta has been shaky with a knee injury.”