USC win is declared no contest

Vast expanses of empty seats in new Stanford Stadium made Saturday’s game between USC and winless Stanford seem like something more akin to a scrimmage.

It was as if the fans who did show up -- and the majority appeared to be Trojans supporters -- were there to gauge where USC stood after its upset loss against Oregon State.

USC did not disappoint, breaking out of a turnover slump and rolling to a 42-0 victory before an audience that was far less than the announced 49,371.

The victory kept alive No. 9 USC’s national championship hopes and improved the Trojans’ record to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference. USC, which fell from third to eighth in the Bowl Championship Series standings after its turnover-laden performance against Oregon State, is expected to climb today.

“People thought after that loss to Oregon State we would tumble and fall,” linebacker Rey Maualuga said. “I feel like we came out and made a statement, saying ‘We’re ready to go.’ Last week we beat ourselves and we’re coming and we’re hungry.”

On a clear and crisp afternoon, USC built a 28-0 halftime lead on three touchdown passes by quarterback John David Booty and recorded its first shutout in more than two years.

“I like the way the whole formula of this game came out just right,” said Pete Carroll, who is now 17-0 in November as USC’s coach. “We were pretty explosive on offense, made some big plays and the defense was on it the whole time.”

Carroll and many of the players credited cornerback Terrell Thomas for spurring the Trojans, who had committed four turnovers against Oregon State but did not create one in the game.

Thomas addressed the team Friday night with a speech that inspired not only teammates but himself.

“I just felt the need to put a spark on it,” he said.

The 6-1, 200-pound junior from Rancho Cucamonga intercepted a pass and returned a blocked field-goal attempt 71 yards for a touchdown. Safety Kevin Ellison also intercepted a pass and the Trojans recovered a fumbled kickoff and converted it for a touchdown.

USC returned home Saturday night to a schedule that will not force them to leave Southern California for the rest of the regular season. The Trojans play Oregon, California and Notre Dame at the Coliseum and then finish with UCLA at the Rose Bowl.

“Everything’s got to happen in L.A. from this point forward and we’re real excited about that,” Carroll said. “It’s been a long year on the road, a lot of trips and stuff. Now we have the benefit of being home for the finish of the season and we need to make the most of it.”

Injury-depleted Stanford (0-9 overall, 0-6 in the Pac-10) tried to make do with the prospect of a winless season hanging over its head.

The Cardinal gave up only Chauncey Washington’s 15-yard touchdown run in the first quarter before USC put the game out of reach by scoring 21 more points before halftime.

“I thought we fought as hard as we could for as long as we could,” said Stanford Coach Walt Harris, whose team managed only 208 yards of offense and suffered its second shutout of the season.

USC’s second-quarter burst began with split end Dwayne Jarrett catching three passes that covered all but 18 yards during an 87-yard drive that he capped with a 21-yard touchdown.

Trojans linebacker Keith Rivers caused Wopamo Osaisai to fumble while returning the ensuing kickoff and freshman cornerback Shareece Wright recovered the ball and returned it four yards to the seven-yard line. Booty’s pass to flanker Steve Smith made the score 21-0.

Thomas’ interception gave USC another scoring opportunity, but Booty’s incomplete pass on a fourth-and-eight play at the Stanford 35 prevented the Trojans from converting.

USC started its next possession from its own two, but Booty hit Jarrett for 36 yards along the left sideline on the first play and running back Emmanuel Moody turned a short pass into a 33-yard gain eight plays later. Booty’s two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Fred Davis put the Trojans ahead, 28-0.

“It didn’t seem like we had to attack them hard tonight,” said Booty, who completed 12 of 21 for 203 yards. “We were kind of in control from the beginning.”

Stanford had a chance to avoid the shutout late in the third quarter when Aaron Zagory lined up for a 33-yard field-goal attempt. But Ellis burst through and blocked the kick. Thomas picked up the bouncing ball at the 29 and raced for a touchdown for a 35-0 lead.

Mark Sanchez took over for Booty in the fourth quarter and directed the Trojans on a 57-yard scoring drive that he ended with a four-yard touchdown run.

The defense hung on to finish the Trojans’ first shutout since blanking Washington, 38-0, on Oct. 23, 2004.

“We showed we have a strong will,” said Jarrett, who caught five passes for 118 yards, all in the first half. “We don’t get down on ourselves and we’re looking forward to Oregon now.”

Thomas said the Trojans also are looking forward to staying at home.

They have won 30 consecutive games at the Coliseum and seven in a row against UCLA, streaks they intend to continue.

“We’re finally playing as a team,” he said. “Now we just have to finish it out.”

gary.klein@latimes.com