Leinart’s Sneak Peak

The streak could have died here.

It could have joined other historic winning streaks buried deep in the legend that is Notre Dame Stadium, one of college football’s most hallowed edifices.

A stout Notre Dame team listened to Joe Montana the night before the game for inspiration. It broke out green jerseys Saturday for an added boost. And for 58 minutes, the Fighting Irish gave USC all it could handle.

But the Trojans would not give in. Reggie Bush had a highlight-reel day and quarterback Matt Leinart overcame early struggles to score on a keeper with three seconds remaining, giving top-ranked USC an epic 34-31 victory over ninth-ranked Notre Dame before a stunned sellout crowd of 80,795.

The victory extended USC’s winning streak to 28 games and kept the Trojans (6-0) on track for an unprecedented third straight national title.

“We just don’t know how to lose,” said Leinart, the Heisman Trophy winner. “The game is not over until that fourth quarter ends.”

The 77th meeting between the storied rivals will be remembered by USC as a defining game in its pursuit of history.

Coach Pete Carroll said it was USC’s greatest win in a streak that also includes a Rose Bowl defeat of Michigan and a rout of Oklahoma in last season’s national championship game.

“This is pretty awesome,” Carroll said as he ran up the tunnel to the dressing room. “To do it here, against a great team and with all that went along with the matchup, this is a hell of a win.”

USC trailed, 21-14, at halftime, 24-21 early in the fourth quarter and 31-28 in the last three minutes before staging the final comeback.

Bush kept the Trojans in the game, rushing for 160 yards in 15 carries and scoring on touchdown runs of 36, 45 and nine yards. The last one gave USC a short-lived 28-24 lead with 5:09 left in the game.

Notre Dame, under first-year Coach Charlie Weis, was hoping for a repeat of other streak-busting victories. Exactly 17 years ago Saturday, for example, the Fighting Irish ended Miami’s 36-game winning streak and went on to win the national title.

Quarterback Brady Quinn completed 19 of 35 passes for 264 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Samardzija, and also ran for a go-head touchdown with 2:04 to play.

Notre Dame controlled the ball for 17 minutes more than the Trojans. But the Fighting Irish remained winless against top-ranked USC teams, falling short for the fifth time.

“Obviously we’re disappointed, but at the end we had a chance to ice the game on special teams, on offense and on defense,” said Weis, whose team fell to 4-2. “When you have a chance against a team like USC, you better take advantage of it.”

Notre Dame appeared on its way to the upset when Quinn drove the Fighting Irish 87 yards in eight plays, finishing it with a five-yard touchdown run for a 31-28 lead with 2:04 remaining.

Bush returned the ensuing kickoff 20 yards to the USC 25, but Leinart threw incomplete on first down and was sacked by defensive lineman Trevor Laws for a nine-yard loss on the next play. Leinart then connected with Bush for a 10-yard gain to set the stage for one of the game’s pivotal plays.

On fourth and nine from the 26, Leinart called an audible at the line of scrimmage.

“He checked out of the play and said he’s coming to me,” split end Dwayne Jarrett said.

Jarrett, who had blurred vision throughout the fourth quarter after he hit the ground attempting to make a diving catch, ran down the left sideline and hauled in Leinart’s pass near midfield. He sprinted toward the end zone before cornerback Ambrose Wooden chased him down at the Irish 13, a 61-yard gain.

Leinart could not connect with Steve Smith on first down, but six- and five-yard runs by Bush gave the Trojans first and goal at the two with less than 20 seconds left.

Leinart dropped back and, unable to find an open receiver, scrambled toward the left sideline, diving at the end-zone pylon. He fumbled the ball out of bounds when he was hit by linebacker Corey Mays.

The clock continued to tick down, fans streaming onto the field and Fighting Irish players starting to celebrate.

But officials ordered seven seconds restored to the game clock, setting the stage for the winning play from the one.

Carroll said he recalled something former Minnesota Viking coach Bud Grant told him when Carroll was an NFL assistant: “Just give me a chance to win on the last play of the game.”

“Whenever it comes up, I’ve cherished the opportunity,” Carroll said. “And it was there, man, it was right there for us.”

USC coaches gave Leinart the option to spike the ball and stop the clock or attempt to sneak into the end zone. As the players approached the line of scrimmage, Bush initially told Leinart to go for the touchdown, then saw the Notre Dame defense bunched in the center.

Leinart took the snap, went slightly to his left into the pile and, with a push from Bush, spun into the end zone -- and Trojan lore.

Notre Dame tried several laterals on the ensuing squib kickoff before the Trojans tackled Tom Zbikowski to end the game.

“I was in shock. I didn’t want to celebrate until the clock hit zero,” said Leinart, who finished 17 for 32 for 301 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. “... It was a great game and I’m still really speechless.

“I would imagine this will go down as one of the greatest games ever played.”

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The drive

Breaking down USC’s final drive:

USC starts at its 25-yard line with 2:04 remaining.

* 1st and 10: Matt Leinart pass incomplete, intended for Dwayne Jarrett.

* 2nd and 10: Leinart sacked for a nine-yard loss to the USC 16.

* 3rd and 19: Leinart 10-yard pass to Reggie Bush to the USC 26.

* 4th and 9: Leinart 61-yard pass to Jarrett to the Notre Dame 13.

* 1st and 10: Leinart pass incomplete, intended for Steve Smith.

* 2nd and 10: Bush runs for six yards to the Notre Dame seven.

* 3rd and 4: Bush runs for five yards to the Notre Dame two.

* 1st and goal: Leinart runs for one yard, fumbles out of bounds at the one.

* 2nd and goal: Leinart runs one yard for a touchdown with three seconds left.

* Total: Nine plays, 75 yards in 2:01

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The streak

USC’s last loss was at California, 34-31, on Sept. 27, 2003. The Trojans’ winning streak stands at 28 games:

*--* 2003 Season No. Date Opponent Score 1. Oct. 4 at Arizona St. 37-17 2. Oct. 11 Stanford 44-21 3. Oct. 18 at Notre Dame 45-14 4. Oct. 25 at Washington 43-23 5. Nov. 1 Washington St. 43-16 6. Nov. 15 at Arizona 45-0 7. Nov. 22 UCLA 47-22 8. Dec. 6 Oregon St. 52-28 9. Jan. 1 Michigan*** 28-14 2004 10. Aug. 28 Virginia Tech* 24-13 11. Sept. 11 Colorado St. 49-0 12. Sept. 18 at Brigham Young 42-10 13. Sept. 25 at Stanford 31-28 14. Oct. 9 California 23-17 15. Oct. 16 Arizona St. 45-7 16. Oct. 23 Washington 38-0 17. Oct. 30 at Washington St. 42-12 18. Nov. 6 at Oregon St. 28-20 19. Nov. 13 Arizona 49-9 20. Nov. 27 Notre Dame 41-10 21. Dec. 4 at UCLA 29-24 22. Jan. 4 Oklahoma** 55-19 2005 23. Sept. 3 at Hawaii 63-17 24. Sept. 17 Arkansas 70-17 25. Sept. 24 at Oregon 45-13 26. Oct. 1 at Arizona St. 38-28 27. Oct. 8 Arizona 42-21 28. Oct. 15 at Notre Dame 34-31

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*Black Coach Assn. Classic at Landover, Md. ** Orange Bowl at Miami ***Rose Bowl