Trojans Look Good at 30

After playing five of its first seven games on the road, USC took full advantage of home comforts Saturday.

The top-ranked Trojans emerged from the Coliseum tunnel before kickoff against Washington State and reveled in cheers while waving and gesturing to the sold-out homecoming crowd.

The love fest between players and fans continued once the game started, running back LenDale White tossing the ball to rapper Snoop Dogg after scoring a second-quarter touchdown.

“Where else can you do that besides L.A.?” White said.

USC added another chapter to its historic L.A. story with its most complete game of the season, a 55-13 rout before 92,021 that extended the Trojans’ winning streak to 30 games and kept them on track for a chance to play for an unprecedented third consecutive national title.

USC amassed a season-high 745 yards and the defense shut down Washington State’s high-powered attack as the Trojans improved to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference with their 24th consecutive home victory.

“This is a clear statement about what we wanted to get done, how we wanted to look and what we’ve expected from our guys,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “I’m really pleased with this day.”

Last week, USC dropped to No. 2 behind Texas in the bowl championship series standings.

Carroll dismissed the fall as a non-issue for his team, but several Trojan players said after the game that they used it as motivation.

“It’s definitely something in the back of our minds,” said flanker Steve Smith, who caught two touchdown passes. “What are they doing? They’re messing us up. We just have to show them on the field.”

USC eclipsed the 700-yard mark for the third time in three home games. But unlike the bombs-away approach they used to torch Arkansas and Arizona, the Trojans stayed with mostly short pass routes for the second consecutive game and carved up the Cougars.

Quarterback Matt Leinart remained in the groove he recaptured last week against Washington, passing for 364 yards and three touchdowns.

White emerged from a mini-slump and rushed for 155 yards in 20 carries and scored twice. Reggie Bush had 97 of USC’s 312 yards rushing.

“I’ve been in college football for 30 years and it’s as good as I’ve seen,” Washington State Coach Bill Doba said of the Trojan offense.

USC’s defense, meanwhile, stepped up with perhaps its best performance of the season.

Washington State (3-5, 0-5) came into the game with the nation’s sixth-ranked offense, averaging 39 points and 519 yards a game.

Running back Jerome Harrison rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown, but the Trojans limited the Cougars to a season-low 284 yards, only 89 through the air.

Josh Pinkard, making his first start at cornerback, made a team-high 10 tackles and the Trojans did not give up a pass completion longer than 12 yards.

“People were saying they were going to come out and go deep and things like that,” Pinkard said. “So that’s what I was worried about, not getting beat deep.”

USC, which ranked eighth in the conference in opponent third-down conversion rate, put the clamps on the Cougars, who converted only two of 13 times on third down.

“They looked like a hell of a team on film,” safety Scott Ware said. “It just didn’t seem like that team showed up today.”

Leinart finished 24 for 34 with an interception. He did most of his damage in the first half while the Trojans amassed 459 yards and cruised to a 38-6 lead.

The Heisman Trophy winner put USC ahead on its first possession by tossing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Jarrett, who finished with 11 receptions for 200 yards.

Washington State answered with an 81-yard, six-play drive that Harrison capped with a 13-yard touchdown run on a draw play. But the Cougars missed the extra-point attempt, and then watched the Trojans score 31 unanswered points.

Bush’s fumble in the end zone after a two-yard run was recovered by tackle Winston Justice for a 14-6 lead with 5:50 left in the first quarter.

Trojan defensive end Lawrence Jackson then caused and recovered a fumble on the ensuing possession, setting up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Leinart to Smith.

USC increased the lead to 28-6 with 33 seconds left in the first quarter on Leinart’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Smith.

White’s two-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter gave the Trojans a 35-6 lead, and Snoop a souvenir.

“I had been talking to him all week and said I would do that if I scored,” White said.

Mario Danelo kicked 27- and 22-yard field goals before White completed his day with a 21-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter for a 48-6 lead.

“Can he get on a Heisman list or what?” Leinart said.

After gaining only 26 yards against Notre Dame and 56 against Washington, White appears to be back on track.

Saturday’s performance marked the 12th 100-yard effort of his career.

“I calmed down and the offensive line opened up amazing holes, huge holes,” said White, who averaged 7.8 yards a carry. “All I had to do was run forward.”

Carroll described the victory as the start of what he hopes will be another strong finish.

USC plays host to Stanford next week and then travels to Cal for its final road game of the regular season. The Trojans finish at home against Fresno State and UCLA.

“This is what we’re capable of doing. This is what we’re counting on,” Carroll said. “Hopefully we can keep it going.”