Ducks Prove They Can Still Wing It

Oregon’s offense is managing just fine despite losing quarterback Akili Smith, the No. 3 pick in the NFL draft.

Or as USC Coach Paul Hackett put it, “72 is a considerable amount of points,” even if it was in a 72-10 victory over Nevada.

New quarterback A.J. Feeley has a 7-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and the Trojans also will have to contend with tailback Reuben Droughns, who didn’t play against USC last season after injuring an ankle the week before in an overtime loss to UCLA.

USC’s defense has been strong, giving up only two touchdowns--the other two came on interceptions--in the first two games.

The Trojans lead the Pac-10 in every defensive category--scoring defense (14.0 points), rushing defense (50.5 yards), pass efficiency defense (234.5 yards) and turnover margin, No. 1 in the nation at +3.5 a game.

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After the San Diego State game, Hackett said the Trojans “dodged a bullet.”

After he saw the tape of the game, he knew it.

USC was leading 17-14 in the fourth quarter when quarterback Carson Palmer threw a pass behind him to Chad Morton that was ruled an incomplete forward pass. Replays showed it was a lateral. San Diego State linebacker Martin Chlumak was there to pick up the ball and might have scored on the play, but the play was called dead.

“It looked to me like from the evidence on the tape, we had some good fortune on that,” Hackett said. “It looked like it was a fairly quick whistle. I think once they blow it like that, whether it’s a reversible call or not, it’s over.”

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Saturday’s game against Oregon at Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks have won 10 in a row, is a sellout. . . . Kickoff for the Oregon State game Oct. 2 at the Coliseum has been set for 3:30 p.m. to accommodate a Fox Sports West Net 2 broadcast.