Van Blarcom shows some leg

Troy Van Blarcom figured that if he could get off to a good start, everything would be all right.

The USC kickoff specialist did just that, booting the opening kick of Saturday night’s game against Oregon into the end zone.

It was the first of numerous times that he made good on his forte, forcing the Ducks to start from deep in their own territory during a 35-10 victory for USC at the Coliseum.

It might seem to be a small thing, but Coach Pete Carroll said that limiting the other team’s kick returns can make a difference. Especially against Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart, who came into the game leading the Pacific 10 Conference in that statistical category with an average of 26.1 yards.

“It’s like playing keep-away,” Carroll said. “They can’t get a shot at you.”

It was important enough to the coach that last week he temporarily benched Van Blarcom when the kicker struggled against Stanford.

Van Blarcom did not want the same thing to happen against Oregon.

“I was pretty mad about that, but I was kicking bad so I kind of deserved it,” he said this week. “This game, I’m just trying to start all over.”

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Tailback Emmanuel Moody was helped from the field after running for a two-yard gain late in the first quarter. He was taken by cart to the locker room to examine a left ankle sprain. C.J. Gable finished the drive, running two yards for USC’s first touchdown.

-- David Wharton

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It took nine games, but USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson finally recorded his first sack.

Jackson, a fourth-year junior, had 10 sacks in 2005 and was on the cover for a regional edition of ESPN the Magazine before the season. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Jackson, however, missed a few weeks of training camp because of a groin strain.

When Jackson wrapped up Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon for a seven-yard loss in the second quarter, it marked his first sack since last season’s UCLA game.

He finished with three.

-- Gary Klein

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You think Carroll might have sensed the USC defense was ready for a big effort? Here’s what he had to say leading up to Saturday’s game:

“We are cleaning things up, we are playing more consistently. Our numbers of missed assignments, missed tackles and lack of effort that we always gauge has been consistently down, on a downtrend. That means they are more sure of what they are doing. They are playing with more consistent effort.

“We are getting better. We are getting stronger right now. I say that and here we go against a wide-open, can-break-your heart team, but we feel pretty good about it.”

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Steve Smith caught seven passes for 87 yards and moved into a tie for sixth-place -- with Keyshawn Johnson -- on USC’s career list with 168 receptions.

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Chauncey Washington rushed for a season-high 119 yards. His previous high was 108 against Arizona State. His 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was his longest gain of the season.... USC is now 55-24-4 in homecoming games -- having won six straight -- dating to 1924.... The Trojans have been ranked in the Associated Press top five in 59 of the last 63 polls. They were in the top 10 this week for their 54th consecutive game, and with Louisville, Texas and Auburn losing, will probably be back in the top five when the next poll comes out is released.... USC scored at least 20 points for a 61st consecutive game, an NCAA record.

-- Mike Hiserman