Northwestern’s Dream of Roses Crushed by USC

Northwestern enjoyed a Cinderella season, but USC had the happy ending.

The Wildcats, long one of college football’s most predictable losers, looked more like ugly stepsisters in the first half of Monday’s Rose Bowl game in Pasadena. However, they rallied to take the lead in the fourth quarter before the Trojans pulled out a 41-32 victory before a crowd of 100,102.

USC receiver Keyshawn Johnson had a record-breaking game with 216 yards on 12 catches, but it was a couple of big plays by the Trojans’ defensive backs that made the difference.

After Adam Abrams’ 46-yard field goal with 9:09 to play gave USC (9-2-1) a 34-32 lead, the Wildcats were driving again when quarterback Steve Schnur overthrew his intended receiver and safety Jesse Davis intercepted for the Trojans. That led to Delon Washington’s two-yard touchdown run that all but clinched the victory.

In the first half, USC was leading, 17-7, when Brian Musso caught a pass from Schnur and carried it across midfield before he had the ball stripped by Sammy Knight. USC freshman cornerback Daylon McCutcheon picked up the loose ball, stayed inbounds along the sidelines and went 53 yards for a touchdown.

With the USC passing attack working, Coach John Robinson abandoned his two-quarterback offense and stuck with Brad Otton, who completed 29 of 44 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns.

Darnell Autry scored three touchdowns for Northwestern (10-2), which was making its first trip to Pasadena since 1949.

New Year’s Day is usually the climax of the bowl season, but not this year. In the Great-Grandsonny of the bowl games, top-ranked Nebraska will face No. 2 Florida for the national championship tonight at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.

Nebraska, which hasn’t lost a regular-season game in three years, is playing in its third consecutive national title game. Florida, with Coach Steve Spurrier’s high-flying offense, is going for its first crown.

In other bowls Monday:

In the Citrus Bowl at Orlando, Fla., Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, but Tennessee’s Jay Graham ran for 154 yards and a score as the Volunteers defeated Ohio State, 20-14.

* In the Orange Bowl at Miami, Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell threw two of his four touchdown passes in the final 10 minutes and the Seminoles rallied from a 12-point deficit to defeat Notre Dame, 31-26.

* In the Cotton Bowl at Dallas, Marcus Washington stunned Oregon with a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the second quarter and John Hessler threw for two scores and ran for another as Colorado defeated the Ducks, 38-6.

* In the Outback Bowl at Tampa, Fla., Wally Richardson threw four touchdown passes in the rain as Penn State routed Auburn, 43-14.

* In the Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Fla., Syracuse freshman quarterback Donovan McNabb threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Orangemen pounded Clemson, 41-0.

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