Receiver Hayes Sprains Ankle

USC is hoping receiver Windrell Hayes will be ready for next week’s game at Oregon, but a more realistic outlook is he’ll be out one or two games because of a high ankle sprain.

Hayes left Saturday’s game with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Against Hawaii, Hayes led USC with six receptions for 80 yards.

“That takes a little wind out of your sails, but that’s football,” Coach Paul Hackett said. “We’re just fortunate to have a young guy [freshman Kareem Kelly] who’s playing way beyond his years.”

USC coaches probably won’t know until the middle of next week if Hayes will be ready to go against the Ducks. If he can’t play, that will most likely mean that Kelly will start opposite R. Jay Soward.

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After a terrible first 29 minutes and 59 seconds in his first Division I-A start, San Diego State quarterback and El Segundo native Jack Hawley got one last chance to turn the game around before halftime. And that’s what he did.

Hawley hit receiver Derrick Lewis on a 45-yard bomb as time ran out in the half to cut USC’s lead to 17-7 in a game the Trojans dominated to that point.

The play also erased any effects a three-interception first half may have had on the junior.

“That gave me a lot of confidence,” Hawley said. “I wasn’t having a good game, and to go from 17 points to 10 points down was a real morale booster for the team.”

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With players such as Kelly, Soward and running back Sultan McCullough, the Trojans are one of the fastest teams in the nation. After the game, San Diego State Coach Ted Tollner seemed convinced of that.

“I don’t think we’re going to play a faster team this year,” said Tollner, the former Trojan coach.

But not all on the San Diego State sideline were impressed.

“We’ve got some fast guys too,” Aztec cornerback Jermaine Watkins said. “They were nothing special.”

Watkins intercepted a pass by Carson Palmer and returned it 62 yards for a score to bring the Aztecs to within 24-21 with 4:24 to go in the game.

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The Trojans committed 13 penalties for 110 yards in the game, the most since they committed 13 against Washington last Oct. 31. Last season against San Diego State, USC committed 15 penalties for 114 yards. . . . In the game’s most bizarre play, Hawley was credited with a completion and reception on the same play. In the third quarter, Hawley had a pass batted back to him. After a momentary hesitation, Hawley ran to his right, picking up two yards. . . . Some of the game’s emotions carried over to the USC marching band after the game. While performing in front of the locker rooms after the game, some band members refused to let San Diego State players pass while exiting the locker room. Brief shoving even occurred between a couple of players and band members carrying drums, before band leaders moved the drummers and let the players pass. . . . USC running back Chad Morton carried the ball a career-high 30 times for 91 yards. It was a very up-and-down day for Morton, as he had more carries for a loss (six) than he did carries for at least 10 yards (two). The negative yardage plays prevented him from having what would have been his ninth career 100-yard rushing game. Last year, he had 110 yards in 23 carries against the Aztecs. . . . USC’s opponent next Saturday, Oregon, pounded Nevada, 72-10.