Graziani Leads Oregon to 22-7 Win Over USC

USC was upset 22-7 Saturday at the Coliseum as Oregon’s Tony Graziani, living a second-string quarterback’s dream, threw for 287 yards and a touchdown in his first college start.

Oregon’s first victory at the Coliseum in 23 years bore a striking resemblance to a 28-23 win on Oct. 9, 1971, when Dan Fouts was injured and Harvey Winn started and threw for three touchdowns.

USC Coach John Robinson was an Oregon assistant on that day.

Graziani, a sophomore filling in for injured star Danny O’Neil, completed 16 of 31 passes and threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Cristin McLemore as Oregon (3-2) won its Pacific-10 opener against USC (2-2, 1-1.)

Dino Philyaw carried 27 times for 123 yards and scored on a 49-yard run and also caught three passes for 61 yards for the Ducks, who were 19-point underdogs.

Oregon’s defense, with nine sacks, shut out the Trojans after the first quarter and sent quarterback Rob Johnson to the sidelines with a sprained right ankle in the third quarter.

Johnson completed 20 of 30 passes for 237 yards, with one touchdown and one interception before he was hurt, but he was unable to move the Trojans with any consistency.

Matt Belden kicked three field goals for Oregon’s other points. Belden provided the only scoring of the second half, kicking a 24-yard field goal midway through the final quarter after he hit a 43-yarder with 33 seconds left in the third period.

The Ducks took a 16-7 lead midway through the second quarter when Graziani threw to McLemore, who came clear across the middle of the end zone. Graziani drove the Ducks 70 yards to that score, completing one throw of 32 yards and another of 19 yards in the march.

After falling behind 10-0, the Trojans scored on a seven-yard pass from Rob Johnson to Keyshawn Johnson late in the opening quarter. Keyshawn Johnson also had a 27-yard catch in the 66-yard scoring drive.