FIRST QUARTER

USC 7, San Jose State 0

THE SCORING: * USC 7, San Jose State 0: Sultan McCullough, 14-yard run at 2:59. 82-yard drive, eight plays. PAT--David Davis (kick).

TURNING POINT: The Trojans finally started to click offensively after getting their initial first down with 4:54 left in the first quarter. They got it when Carson Palmer passed to Kareem Kelly for 13 yards. Palmer passed to fullback Charlie Landrigan for another 13-yard gain on the next play, and then McCullough took over. He had 55 yards in five carries, including the final 14 yards on the 82-yard scoring drive.

NOT IN THE SUMMARY: USC did not get off to a good start. First, the Trojans let San Jose State drive to the USC 34 in 14 plays before Bernard Riley stopped Deonce Whitaker one yard short of a first down on fourth down. Then the Trojan offense came on the field. On the first play, the Trojans tried a razzle-dazzle, Palmer handing off to McCullough, and McCullough pitching back to Palmer. The play lost seven yards. USC was called for holding on the next play. Moments later Mike MacGillivray punted for the first time this season, a line drive that went 29 yards.

STAT WATCH: McCullough had eight carries for 68 yards and Palmer completed four of four passes for 52 yards.

SECOND QUARTER

USC 14, San Jose State 3

THE SCORING: * USC 14, San Jose State 0: McCullough, 35-yard run at 1:36. 60-yard drive, six plays. PAT--Davis (kick). * USC 14, San Jose State 3: Nick Gilliam, 37-yard field goal at 0:00. Two-play drive after 45-yard interception return by Alex Wallace.

TURNING POINT: Just when it began to appear San Jose State had the edge in punting, a shanked punt by Michael Carr gave the Trojans a first down at their own 40. A 19-yard pass play from Palmer to Landrigan helped set up McCullough’s second touchdown.

NOT IN THE SUMMARY: An interception by USC’s Chris Cash stopped an impressive San Jose State drive at the Trojan 36. The Spartans started from their 10 after a 45-yard punt by MacGillivray on the first play of the second quarter. After Cash’s interception, Palmer connected with Kori Dickerson for 22 yards. But the drive stalled and MacGillivray’s punt this time was good for only 27 yards, going out of bounds at the San Jose State 32.

STAT WATCH: McCullough and Palmer continued to dominate. McCullough finished the half with 120 yards in 12 carries and Palmer was 10 for 12 for 114 yards.

THIRD QUARTER

USC 14, San Jose State 3

No scoring.

TURNING POINT: Perhaps Palmer’s first pass of the third quarter was an indication this would not be a good quarter for the Trojans. The short pass to Kelly was caught, but for no apparent reason he had stepped out of bounds. The Trojans’ first drive of the second half ended when, on fourth and eight, a pass to Keary Colbert gained seven.

NOT IN THE SUMMARY: The Trojans got a bad break on San Jose State’s ensuing drive. The Spartans were at the USC 32 when Marcus Arroyo passed to Juan Walden, who appeared to catch the ball. A hit by USC’s Antuan Simmons jarred the ball loose and teammate Troy Polamalu picked it up and went 45 yards to the 15. But the officials ruled the pass was incomplete. On the next play, Riley intercepted a pass. His return was three yards.

STAT WATCH: McCullough gained only 17 yards in seven carries. .

FOURTH QUARTER

USC 21, San Jose State 10

THE SCORING: * USC 21, San Jose State 3: McCullough, seven-yard run at 12:13. 82-yard drive, 14 plays. PAT--Davis (kick). * USC 21, San Jose State 10: Whitaker, three-yard run at 6:00. 85-yard drive, 14 plays. PAT--Gilliam (kick).

TURNING POINT: San Jose State had finally scored a touchdown, USC went three and out and the Spartans were driving again. On third and 15 from the USC 33, Arroyo threw a perfect pass to Charley Pauley, who hauled it in. But a hard hit by Polamalu and Simmons caused Pauley to drop the ball. Arroyo’s next pass was incomplete and the Trojans took over on downs.

NOT IN THE SUMMARY: The Trojans’ final scoring drive took 7:06, with McCullough again doing much of the work. A 14-yard run set up his seven-yard touchdown run.

STAT WATCH: McCullough finished with 167 yards in 25 carries and Palmer was 21 for 28 for 213 yards and just the one interception before halftime that resulted in a San Jose State field goal. Punter MacGillivray rallied to finish with a 37-yard average on five punts.