GAME REPORT: USC 55, Illinois 3

Morton Does a Little of Everything Redshirt freshman Chad Morton played offense and defense and on most of the Trojans’ special teams. As a tailback, Morton carried the ball nine times for 32 yards, including a two-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. But he also was credited for three tackles, recovered one fumble, returned a punt and was called for pass interference.

“It was a lot of fun out there, but I was exhausted,” said Morton, the younger brother of former USC and current Detroit Lion receiver Johnny Morton. “In practice, all I played was running back leading up to the game. I guess that’s why I didn’t play too well at corner. But the highlight for me definitely was scoring my first touchdown.”

So what will he say to his brother?

“I’ll tell him thanks because he sent me some Barry Sanders turf shoes before the game. They really helped because I had problems running with my other shoes.”

Running It Up? Tepper Can’t Worry On the sideline, Illinois Coach Lou Tepper did not look too pleased with USC Coach John Robinson after the Trojans’ 97-yard touchdown pass play from Matt Kofler to R. Jay Soward with 5:41 remaining in the game and USC ahead by 38 points.

But in the interview room after the game, Tepper declined to criticize Robinson.

“Did they run up the score? I don’t know because I can’t get into their heads,” said Tepper, whose team dropped to 0-2. “All I know is that I have bigger problems to deal with.”

*

The play was by 10 yards the longest pass play in USC’s 103-year football history. The previous record was 87 yards, set by Todd Marinovich and John Jackson against Ohio State in 1989.

Coach Cautious, McCutcheon Not The big grin spoke volumes, but Robinson was cautious after his team’s 55-3 victory.

“We can’t pat ourselves on the back too much after this,” he said. “I hope our players feel they did OK, that they’ve taken a step forward with this performance.”

His players weren’t as restrained.

Said cornerback Daylon McCutcheon: “We proved to everyone today what kind of defense we can be. A lot of people counted us out of the hunt after that terrible performance against Penn State. Now, everyone has to respect us, and I mean everybody.”

Mailo Gets In Little Wrestling Among the freshmen who got to play Saturday was USC’s sumo wrestler from Hawaii, 350-pound offensive tackle Faaesea Mailo.

He played briefly for starter Ken Bowen and did fine, once staying on his block of Illinois defensive end Cyron Brown for five or six seconds. The frustrated Illinois player barked at Mailo, and the two glared at each other.

Mailo: “He mumbled something, and finally, I said: ‘Look, either punch me or just beat it, OK?’ He just left.”