Wait Is Over for MacKenzie

Malaefou MacKenzie waited a long time for Monday night.

“It took six years, but it felt good to be out there,” he said.

Sometimes, it seems as if it has been that long since MacKenzie played in a big game for USC. The oft-injured, sixth-year senior has spent more time rehabilitating various injuries than showcasing his talents at tailback.

But that changed in the Trojans’ 24-17 season-opening victory over Auburn at the Coliseum. MacKenzie not only managed to get through the game unscathed, he had a career night before a boisterous crowd of 63,269.

He made his presence felt on USC’s first play from scrimmage, catching a short pass from quarterback Carson Palmer and turning it into a 15-yard gain. MacKenzie continued to catch Auburn’s defense off guard, leading the Trojans with six receptions for 117 yards, both career bests.

It was the first 100-yard receiving game by a Trojan running back since Mike Garrett had 122 yards receiving against California in 1964. Not bad for someone playing in his first game since the 2000 season.

“It was awesome to be out there playing with my brothers,” said MacKenzie, who had 33 yards in 10 carries. “I try to contribute any way I can.”

Sultan McCullough got the bulk of the carries at tailback, but MacKenzie was frequently paired with McCullough in the backfield. By lining up in the slot and sometimes going into motion, MacKenzie found himself open several times on pass patterns.

“That was the plan coming in,” MacKenzie said. “We didn’t know how they would react to two tailbacks in the game. We caught them off guard. [Auburn] got kind of lost. Carson saw that real easily and got the ball to me.”

Palmer and MacKenzie hooked up for completions of 15, 19, 37 and 32 yards. MacKenzie’s 16-yard run in the third quarter helped set up a 37-yard field goal by David Davis that gave the Trojans a 17-14 lead, and MacKenzie caught a nine-yard pass on the winning drive, ending with Palmer’s one-yard sneak with 1:26 to play.

“I’m so happy for the guy,” Palmer said. “He stepped up. That’s what we expect from him.... The way we look at it, there’s no linebacker in the country who can cover him, and he proved that tonight.”

Said Coach Pete Carroll of MacKenzie: “He caught the ball great and made some big-time plays for us.”

MacKenzie was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA because he sat out two seasons because of “medical or extraordinary circumstances.”

He sat out the 2001 season after a series of setbacks. He was sidelined for USC’s first two games because of a sprained right knee, sat out the third while attending his father’s funeral in Western Samoa and sat out the next two after re-spraining his knee in practice.

At that point, he decided to leave the team and return to Western Samoa for the rest of the season.

Such disappointments were nothing new for MacKenzie. He sat out four games in 1999 because of a pulled left hamstring, after being injured in USC’s 1998 opener against Purdue and undergoing season-ending surgery on his left knee. Although he became only the third freshman to start at tailback for USC in 1997, he was hindered much of the season by foot and shoulder injuries.

After his knee surgery, MacKenzie wondered if he would be able to play football again. But his faith remained strong and provided the foundation for his numerous comebacks. He has been healthy since having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last spring.

He called Monday’s game “bittersweet.” After everything MacKenzie has endured during his USC career, maybe that’s as good as it gets right now.