They Hit Road in Full Stride

After enjoying the comforts of home for the last month, top-ranked USC today will begin preparing for consecutive journeys to the Pacific Northwest.

The Trojans, who play at Washington State on Saturday and at Oregon State on Nov. 6, have not been out of the Southland since Sept. 25, when they opened Pacific 10 Conference play at Stanford.

Following an off week in the schedule, USC defeated then-No. 7 California and then-No. 15 Arizona State before concluding its homestand with a 38-0 victory over Washington on Saturday.

On Sunday, USC maintained its 43-point lead over No. 2 Oklahoma in the Associated Press media poll and will hold onto its No. 1 position in the bowl championship series standings this week.

“We took advantage of the opportunity coming home and established some momentum,” Coach Pete Carroll said Sunday. “I feel good about what we’re doing and the three wins were all good ones for us. You have to go on the road sometime, so here we go.”

Last week’s rain in the Southland enabled USC to practice in conditions that might mirror those it encounters during its next two games. The Trojans worked with a wet ball and made heavy use of one of their practice fields that features an artificial surface. But Carroll said he was not concerned about the role weather might play in games at Pullman, Wash., and Corvallis, Ore.

“We have a chance to get some extreme weather and so we just have to get ready mentally to deal with it,” he said. “It’s never been an issue one way or the other whether it’s hot or cold ... so I’m not going to make a big deal about it.”

Carroll also said he was not concerned about the offense’s slow start against Washington. The Trojans led, 10-0, at halftime, then scored 21 points in the third quarter.

Carroll said the Trojans’ failure to execute in a few passing situations caused them to start out of rhythm.

“Once we got back out there in the second half we got going,” he said. “I left the guys out there a little bit longer than they even needed to just to make sure we had enough plays to put together a pretty good rhythm on the offensive side.”

Reserve running back Desmond Reed scored the final touchdown, in the fourth quarter, on a 28-yard run that he finished with a dive over the pylon into the end zone.

“The adrenaline was pumping, I was zoned in on the end zone,” said Reed, a redshirt freshman from Temple City.

Reed also made the tackle on the ensuing kickoff. In the first half, he landed a crushing block that help spring Reggie Bush for a 30-yard punt return.

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With John Drake (ankle) listed as questionable for Saturday’s game, Carroll said freshman Jeff Byers could start in Drake’s place. Byers played guard and center against Washington. “He played his best game, a real solid 20 plays at the end of the game,” Carroll said.... Carroll said he did not expect that safety Scott Ware (foot) would play Saturday.