Moreno’s Last Game Ranks as One of His Best

Linebacker Zeke Moreno, the anchor of the USC defense this season, finished his career with one of his best performances as a Trojan.

Though Moreno committed a costly penalty in the second quarter--roughing Notre Dame quarterback Matt LoVecchio--he finished with a season-high 14 tackles.

By game’s end, the senior’s jersey was torn across the top of his shoulder pads.

“I wish it could keep going,” he said. “This is not the way I want to end the season.”

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Notre Dame came into the game with a reputation for special teams play, and the Irish did not disappoint.

Early in the first quarter, flanker David Givens blocked a Mike MacGillivray punt, the ball traveling only 14 yards to the USC 40-yard line. Notre Dame quickly scored a touchdown.

Less than a minute into the second quarter, linebacker Chad DeBolt partially blocked another punt, sending the ball spinning out of bounds at midfield.

It was the fifth time the Irish have blocked a punt and, for the fifth time, they turned it into seven points.

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With nothing to lose, USC converted two crucial fourth-down plays.

The first one came early in the fourth quarter, at the Irish 10-yard line, when the Trojans faked a dive play and quarterback Carson Palmer threw to tight end Antoine Harris for a touchdown.

On the second, a few minutes later, Palmer ran two yards to keep a drive alive. But he was sacked on the next two plays and had a pass to Matt Nickels ruled out of bounds.

Coach Paul Hackett considered it a turning point.

“We ended up having to punt and they took control of the ballgame,” he said.

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For all the hardship and disappointment of this season, the USC players say they cannot believe it passed so quickly.

“It flew by,” safety Troy Polamalu said. “It feels like yesterday we were down [in training camp] in Irvine.”

The end is even more difficult because, for a second consecutive season, the Trojans face another December with no practice, no invitation to play in the postseason.

“You wait so long for football season,” Palmer said “That’s the hardest part, right when the season ends. You’re watching bowl games on television and you wish you were playing.”

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Even though Notre Dame was on the road, Coach Bob Davie decided to hold a special ceremony to honor the seniors Friday night.

He had the seniors’ home jerseys shipped to Los Angeles, and had posters made up. Then he gathered the team in a ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton in Pasadena and let every senior talk about his Notre Dame experience.

“It took about a hour and 15 minutes, and it was one of the most emotional things I’ve ever been involved in,” Davie said. “Maybe it was too much emotion. I had to bring them back down right before the game.”

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Staff Writer Larry Stewart contributed to this story.