Trojan Defense Avoids Breaking Point

USC’s defense may not have recorded a shutout against Arizona on Saturday, but it was close enough.

As the Trojan offense struggled for the second consecutive week, USC’s defense--with starters Sammy Knight, Brian Kelly and Darrell Russell back from a one-game suspensions--bent but did not break against the Wildcats in a 14-7 victory at the Coliseum.

“We’re a very good defensive team,” USC Coach John Robinson said. “This was an important game for us to have to fight to win and rely on our heart.”

And that’s just what the Trojans did against an Arizona team that had less offense than USC. For most of the game, the Wildcats’ attack was simply the running of quarterback Keith Smith, who rushed for 97 yards in 14 carries.

“Man, he is the fastest quarterback I’ve seen and probably the fastest I will ever see,” said Russell, who had four tackles.

Smith, a 5-foot-11 redshirt freshman from Newbury Park, may not be the next Michael Johnson, but he is quicker than your average quarterback and probably your average running back too.

He used his speed to give the Trojans fits for nearly three quarters. Every time he seemed trapped, he outran a defender and turned a loss into a gain. Several times he broke free on runs that set up opportunities for Arizona only to have the Wildcats finish the drive without scoring.

“We had so many chances, but we lost them with fumbles,” said Smith, who rushed for 118 yards but was sacked for minus-21. “We just couldn’t capitalize. It’s so frustrating to get down there and not even come out with a field goal.”

Smith led Arizona on drives into USC territory twice in the first half and the Wildcats came away pointless. On the first drive, Smith’s 22-yard run had the Wildcats primed for a score, but he tripped and fumbled on a rollout from the USC six on a first-down play.

“We had them on the run, but Keith had his foot stepped on by an offensive lineman and he dropped the ball,” Arizona Coach Dick Tomey said. “You can’t fritter away opportunities against a good team like that.”

On Arizona’s next possession, the Wildcats had the ball at the USC 41 but, on third down and two, USC tackle George Perry tackled Smith for a three-yard loss on an option play.

“We had great efforts in key situations,” said Knight, who had a team-high 10 tackles. “We were fortunate to come up with stops when we needed them.”

After USC took the second-half kickoff and drove 80 yards for a touchdown to take a 14-0 lead on LaVale Woods’ second one-yard scoring run of the game, the Trojan defense had to step up again on Arizona’s first drive of the half.

Thanks to a 42-yard scramble by Smith, the Wildcats moved the ball to the USC 24 before the Trojans stiffened. On third and one, USC defensive end Cedric Jefferson tackled Leon Callen for no gain and then, on fourth down, Smith fumbled the snap.

“What helped us the most was that [Smith] wasn’t much of a threat passing because we have good [defensive backs],” said USC freshman linebacker Chris Claiborne, who had nine tackles. “He was tough to catch when he broke out of the pocket because you couldn’t tell how fast he was running.”

It’s ironic that after carrying the Wildcats’ offense for most of the game, Smith was on the sideline when Arizona scored its only touchdown on a two-yard pass from Brady Batten to Richard Dice late in the third quarter.

Smith was knocked out of the game on a hit by Chad Morton and did not return because of a left shoulder injury. Batten was able to get the Wildcats into the end zone thanks to three consecutive passes thrown USC cornerback Daylon McCutcheon’s way. On the first play, Dice beat McCutcheon when he came back to an underthrown sideline pass for a 34-yard gain. The next play, McCutcheon was penalized for pass interference in the end zone and then defended on Dice’s touchdown catch.

“[McCutcheon] covered his guy on all three plays, but he just didn’t get his head around to pick up the football,” Robinson said. “The thing is that if he had [seen the ball] he was in position for a couple of interceptions.”

For the Wildcats, that would be their final offensive hurrah as the Trojan defense took over in the fourth quarter. Arizona had the ball four times in the final 15 minutes but managed only one first down.