Offense Thrives in Scrimmage

With classes scheduled to begin today at USC, Trojan football players took a training camp final of sorts Sunday at the Coliseum.

It was not a terribly difficult test for the first- and second-unit offenses and defenses, which did not face each other, but the Trojans’ 88-play scrimmage did put players in a game-day atmosphere roughly two weeks before the Sept. 3 opener at Hawaii.

“This really came off better than I could have hoped,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

A USC official estimated the crowd at about 30,000. Noise also was piped in to simulate the decibel level the Trojans are expected to encounter at home and on the road as they pursue a third consecutive national title.

“Basically, we played a preseason game,” said quarterback Matt Leinart, who completed seven of nine passes for 128 yards and one touchdown in the first half. “That’s kind of what it was like.”

As expected, the first-unit offense scored at will. Running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White cruised into the end zone on 19- and 75-yard touchdown runs, respectively, and flanker Steve Smith caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Leinart in the first three possessions against the third-team defense.

“It’s just good to get out and get into a game situation,” Smith said. “It’s definitely good for the young guys to get that experience so their eyes aren’t all big for the first time.”

Freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez and freshman receiver Patrick Turner both made plays, but they also took their lumps.

“It was a good awakening call for college -- that these guys aren’t messing around,” said Sanchez, who played against the first-team defense for part of the scrimmage. Sanchez, expected to redshirt this season, also took snaps with the first-team offense and completed eight of 12 passes for 108 yards.

Turner said the Trojans’ walk-through Saturday, their stay at a hotel Saturday night and the pregame routine and scrimmage Sunday would make the opener easier for first-year players.

“Going through the whole game-day situation helped a whole lot just to get us mentally prepared for what it’s going to be like in Hawaii,” said Turner, who caught three passes for 53 yards.

Carroll said communication between new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and assistant head coach Steve Sarkisian was “smooth as silk.”

Not everything went smoothly, however, for USC’s first- and second-unit defenses. They stuffed the run but allowed quarterback Michael McDonald to lead a couple of drives through the air. McDonald was six of 11 for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Carroll did not appear to be too concerned.

“We felt like we were getting the ball moved on us some, which is important to get that sense instead of going three and out all the time,” he said.

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Starting strong-side linebacker Dallas Sartz, who sat out more than a week of contact drills because of a hip pointer, participated in the scrimmage and made one tackle.... Backup quarterback John David Booty was six for 11 for 91 yards and one touchdown.... Linebacker Luthur Brown made a team-best seven tackles and broke up a pass to Turner with a big hit.... Starting defensive end Lawrence Jackson returned a fumble 13 yards for a touchdown. Walk-on linebacker Nick Garratt returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.... Receiver Chris McFoy played for and against the first unit and caught seven passes for 94 yards. Greig Carlson did the same and had five receptions for 102 yards.... Freshman cornerback Will Harris suffered a sprained ankle and freshman linebacker Clay Matthews a sprained elbow, Carroll said.