Killeen Will Kick for Points Today

Ryan Killeen, recruited by USC to boot kickoffs into the end zone, will add field-goal and extra-point attempts to his duties today when the Trojans play Oregon State at the Coliseum.

USC Coach Pete Carroll gave the nod to Killeen on Friday after a week of competition in practice with David Davis.

Davis, a senior, made 15 of 18 field-goal attempts last season and kicked a 37-yard field goal in this year’s opener against Auburn, then struggled in the last two games.

He missed an extra-point attempt and had a field-goal and extra-point attempt blocked against Colorado on Sept. 14. Last week at Kansas State, Davis missed a 30-yard field-goal attempt and had an extra-point try blocked and returned for a two-point play.

Killeen replaced Davis at halftime and kicked two extra points in the fourth quarter.

He made eight of 11 field-goal attempts and 27 of 30 extra-point attempts last season at Mt. San Antonio College.

*

It has been almost a month since USC last played in the Coliseum.

The Trojans defeated Auburn on Sept. 2 before a bye week and games at Colorado and Kansas State.

Last week, the Trojans lost to Kansas State, 27-20, before a frenzied crowd of nearly 50,000 at Manhattan, Kan.

“It’s good to be home,” defensive tackle Shaun Cody said. “Hopefully, our fans will make some noise like the ones at Kansas State.”

*

Today’s game marks the 14th time the Trojans will play an undefeated Oregon State team. USC won the first 12 before losing in 2000 at Corvallis, Ore.

It also is the fifth time No. 18 USC and No. 23 Oregon State will play while both teams are ranked in the top 25. It happened in 1939, 1951, 1957 and 1968. The higher-ranked team won each time.

*

Oregon State Coach Dennis Erickson has never won at the Coliseum.

Erickson is 0-2 with the Beavers and also lost in 1987 when he was at Washington State.