Cougars Hope to Catch USC Looking Ahead

Unbeaten USC, with Notre Dame and Washington lurking ahead, meets another conference unbeaten, Washington State, at the Coliseum today.

The Trojans, 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Pacific 10, are hoping to take a 6-0 record to South Bend, Ind., next weekend to meet the Irish. Washington State (3-2, 2-0) has lost to Pittsburgh (17-13) and Nebraska (35-21) and has defeated UCLA and Oregon State.

The Cougars’ task today is formidable:

--Washington State seldom wins this game. The Cougars haven’t beaten USC since 1986, and the most recent victory before that was 1957. Since 1921, USC’s record against Washington State is 46-5-4.

--Coach Mike Price’s team faces a USC team that is the Pac-10 leader in points scored (35.6 per game) and fewest points allowed (8.6 per game).

--Have we mentioned Keyshawn Johnson?

On a cold, breezy afternoon at Pullman, Wash., last year, Washington State presented its customary talented defense . . . and Rob Johnson and Keyshawn Johnson swallowed it whole, 23-10.

Keyshawn Johnson, who had 145 receiving yards, scored on pass plays of 13, eight and 64 yards. He had a 50-yarder that was called back.

“Johnson almost single-handedly beat us last year, with [quarterback] Rob Johnson,” Price said. “He’s the best receiver we’ve seen in seven years here. And this is the best SC team we’ve seen in seven years too. We need a mistakeless game and to prevent them from making big plays.”

Chad Davis, the Cougars’ quarterback, is No. 2 in the conference in total offense, behind Oregon’s Tony Graziani. Davis is a 61.5% passer and averaging 234 yards per game.

But USC has two quarterbacks with superior numbers for efficiency. Starter Brad Otton is a 65.7% passer, and second-and-fourth-quarter man Kyle Wachholtz is at 67.2%, first in the Pac-10. Neither has thrown an interception; Davis has thrown two.

The game also matches the league’s top two punters. Washington State’s George Martin leads the league at 44.9 yards per kick and USC’s John Stonehouse is next at 42.5. As an indicator of USC’s offensive efficiency, Martin has punted 32 times, Stonehouse 21.

USC is plus-nine in turnover margin, the Cougars plus-eight. USC hasn’t lost a fumble yet, and only third-string quarterback Matt Koffler has thrown an interception.

Another problem for Price’s defense today figures to be Trojan sophomore tailback Delon Washington, who has consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

USC Notes

Cornerback Brian Kelly, out the last three games because of an ankle sprain, is available today but won’t start. Freshman Daylon McCutcheon has replaced him. . . . Kicker Adam Abrams’ charley horse will keep him out today for a third game. . . . Backup defensive tackle Cedric Jefferson is out because of an ankle sprain. . . . Leonard Green, the tailback starter when the season began, will be out because of a foot injury until at least the Stanford game Nov. 4. . . . Coach John Robinson, on Keyshawn Johnson getting fewer balls thrown his way last week at Cal than in previous games: “Some of it was our fault and some of it was Cal playing well. We have to do a better job of finding creative ways of getting him the ball and anticipating things people might do.”