No Trouble in Paradise

USC journeyed to this island paradise hoping for a beautiful beginning to its quest for a third consecutive national title.

The top-ranked Trojans stayed at a posh and isolated beach resort and even scheduled a luau as part of the team’s weekend activities.

USC’s season-opening performance against Hawaii on Saturday was not always as picturesque as the scenery, but the Trojans were spectacular at times during a 63-17 rout before a sun-splashed crowd of 48,803 at Aloha Stadium.

Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart passed for three touchdowns, running back Reggie Bush ran for two, sophomore split end Dwayne Jarrett had three touchdown catches and safety Darnell Bing returned an interception for a touchdown as the Trojans extended their winning streak to 23 games.

“We’re off and flying,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

With record-setting quarterback Timmy Chang no longer directing Coach June Jones’ run-and-shoot offense, and former NFL coach Jerry Glanville now coordinating Hawaii’s defense, USC was not sure what to expect from the Warriors.

It took a while for the Trojans to get started on offense because Hawaii, alternating quarterbacks on nearly every play, controlled the ball for most of the first quarter.

“We got a little out of whack at times,” Carroll said.

But once USC’s offense got onto the field, the Trojans began to assume control. USC built a 21-3 halftime lead and outscored Hawaii, 28-7, in the third quarter en route to amassing 518 yards.

It was an impressive debut for assistant head coach Steve Sarkisian and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. The two young coaches who replaced Norm Chow did “a marvelous job in their first opportunity,” according to Carroll.

Leinart, who shocked many by returning for his final season of eligibility, showed no ill effects from off-season elbow surgery. The left-handed quarterback picked apart the Warrior secondary as if he were slicing a pineapple and completed 18 of 24 passes for 332 yards with one interception.

Glanville had watched video of every snap that Leinart had taken in the previous two seasons. After the game, he said the fifth-year senior was “better than he was last year,” when Leinart led the Trojans to an unbeaten season and became USC’s sixth Heisman winner.

Leinart was not overly impressed with his performance.

“I was a little out of rhythm at times, but I made some good throws, good checks and played smart,” he said.

Glanville’s blitzing scheme failed to unnerve Leinart, who was sacked only once and called several audibles that resulted in big gains. Flanker Steve Smith caught seven passes for 185 yards and a touchdown. Jarrett had seven receptions for 88 yards.

“We knew their safeties were going to be aggressive,” Leinart said. “I’ll take my receivers one-on-one against anybody.”

Hawaii did its best to control Bush, the Heisman finalist who was installed at the top of the depth chart near the end of training camp. With fellow junior LenDale White mostly watching from the sideline, Bush handled the majority of carries during the first three quarters. He finished with 86 yards in 12 carries and caught four passes for 58 yards.

Bush scored on a 41-yard run midway through the second quarter to give the Trojans a 21-3 lead and scored from one yard late in the third quarter to increase the margin to 42-10.

“They’re a tricky team to defend,” Hawaii defensive lineman Melila Purcell said. “You know the play is coming to one side and then they go the other way.

“They were as good as we thought they were going to be.”

USC’s defense, which featured five new starters, gave up 437 yards, including 377 passing. Carroll, however, said he would reserve judgment about the unit because it was the season opener and the Warriors’ scheme was so unorthodox.

“This isn’t the game to make an evaluation,” said Carroll, who was miffed by his team’s uncharacteristic nine penalties totaling 97 yards.

Jones appeared to subscribe to the theory that the best way to beat USC was to keep the Trojan offense off the field.

With quarterbacks Tyler Graunke and Colt Brennan trading off, the Warriors moved the ball against USC’s defense and frustrated Trojan offensive players standing in the 86-degree heat.

“I’m just on the sideline like, ‘This is boring,’ ” Bush said.

Bing provided the first excitement for the Trojans by stepping in front of receiver Ross Dickerson and snagging a Brennan pass that he returned 65 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 10:32 left in the first quarter.

“I had a dream last night about doing that, but I was more in the back of the secondary,” said Bing, who sustained a hip injury later in the game. “When I caught the ball, I saw the quarterback to the side and just took off.”

The Warriors answered with a field goal, but USC’s offense finally got onto the field with 1:24 left in the quarter and built its 18-point halftime lead on Leinart’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett and Bush’s 41-yard run, which he punctuated with a leap into the end zone.

Hawaii appeared to gain some momentum when Kenny Patton intercepted a pass in the end zone intended for Jarrett, but the Warriors could not capitalize.

USC extended the lead to 28-3 on Leinart’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett -- which gave Leinart a school-record 73 touchdown passes -- before Hawaii cut the deficit to 18 points on Brennan’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Maneafaiga.

But USC answered with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Leinart to Smith on the second play of the ensuing possession, the first of 28 unanswered points as the Trojans pulled away and cleared the bench.

USC does not play this week and will resume its schedule Sept. 17 against Arkansas at the Coliseum. Carroll and his players, however, intended to enjoy one more day before returning home and getting back to work.

“It’s a great trip. We’re not done yet,” he said. “We’re going to have fun [Saturday night] and fun [today] and we’ll get on back home and get started on this bye and get ready for coming home against Arkansas.”

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Big wins

USC’s largest margins of victory under Coach Pete Carroll, who began his fifth season Saturday:

*--* 49 at USC 49, Colorado St. 0 Sept. 11, 2004 46 USC 63, at Hawaii 17 Sept. 4, 2005 45 USC 45, at Arizona 0 Nov. 15, 2003 41 USC 55, at California 14 Nov. 10, 2001 40 at USC 49, Arizona 9 Nov. 13, 2004

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KEYS TO THE GAME

Gary Klein’s keys to the game, and how the Trojans measured up:

1. Protect Leinart: USC’s Heisman trophy-winning quarterback was sacked only once. He fumbled once when he was hit while passing, but the Trojans recovered the ball and Leinart was unharmed.

2. Avoid turnovers: Leinart had one pass intercepted, but the Trojans otherwise took care of the ball. Darnell Bing returned an interception for a touchdown and Desmond Reed returned a fumble for a touchdown.

3. Beat the heat: The game-time temperature was 86 degrees, and it was hotter on the field’s artificial surface. USC’s defense was on the field for much of the first quarter, but offensive players said it affected them more standing around waiting for their first opportunity.