McCutcheon Takes Lesson to Heart

Daylon McCutcheon learned a valuable lesson Saturday.

USC defensive back coach Dennis Thurman said it after McCutcheon was burned on three successive plays, capped by the Wildcats’ only touchdown in the 14-7 USC win.

Arizona’s Richard Dice caught a pass on a long gain by leaping and using his body to shield McCutcheon, who barely overran the play. Then McCutcheon was called for pass interference in the end zone, and Dice caught a touchdown pass on a play when McCutcheon appeared to stumble on his cut.

McCutcheon, a sophomore, was at Heritage Hall Sunday three hours before the team was due to watch film of the three plays, Thurman said.

“The lesson he learned was that even great players need to do all of the little stuff correctly, on every play,” Thurman said. “It bothered him a lot.”

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USC leads the Pacific 10 Conference in total defense (317.8 yards per game), scoring defense (13.7 points per game) and pass efficiency defense (102.77).

The Trojan secondary, in the last 30 quarters going back to last season, has given up four touchdown passes.

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Starting guard Chris Brymer participated in a few plays Tuesday, testing what he hopes is a healed broken foot. He said he experienced only minor pain.

“My feeling is I can play against Arizona State, but the trainers told me they’d be the judge of that,” he said.

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Starting defensive end Willie Lowery, who sprained an ankle in the Arizona game, didn’t work out. Trainers said his status is day to day. . . . Trojan receiver R. Jay Soward could wind up going one-on-one with his brother, Arizona State cornerback Marcus Soward, on Saturday.