Good News, Bad News Kind of Game for McFoy

It took USC receiver Chris McFoy more than four seasons to catch his first touchdown pass; it took him only one more reception to get knocked out of the game.

The fifth-year senior from Chino scored on a seven-yard throw from John David Booty to give the Trojans a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. It was the 49th reception of his college career.

“I felt liberated after all those years,” McFoy said. “I just felt like the monkey is off my back.”

But on his next catch, early in the second quarter, McFoy was hit by two Washington State defenders and left the game. He was taken to the locker room before halftime and returned in street clothes, his left shoulder bruised.

Linebacker Luthur Brown was also injured, suffering a torn hamstring.

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Coming into this the game, much of the attention was focused on Washington State defensive end Mkristo Bruce, who led the nation in sacks after recording five against Stanford last week.

“With him coming off that game, everyone was like, ‘Wow,’ ” USC left tackle Sam Baker said.

Bruce switched sides throughout the game, alternating against Baker and right tackle Kyle Williams. He sacked Booty in the first quarter and later deflected a pass but also jumped offside and, overall, was limited to five tackles.

“We didn’t do anything different against him,” Baker said of the USC offensive line, which occasionally double-teamed Bruce but mostly played him straight up.

Bruce, a senior, said: “I’ll never be able to play SC again. It was tough to fall short.”

-- David Wharton

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Washington State demonstrated before the game that it would not lie down for the Trojans.

USC defensive linemen always gather at midfield when they arrive at a stadium and then go into the locker room to change and warm up.

When the linemen walked onto the field in their sweat suits on Saturday, Washington State’s student section booed.

As the linemen gathered on the Cougars logo at the 50-yard line, Washington State punter Darryl Blunt took umbrage and started jawing with the group, inciting more calls from the crowd.

The linemen retreated to their locker room to a chorus of boos.

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Washington State receiver Michael Bumpus, who played at Culver City High, finished with a career-best 11 receptions for 112 yards.

“We thought we were in it the whole time,” he said. “We just kept playing hard, and that shows the character of this team. Last year, we wouldn’t have played this hard and come back.”

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After rushing for 202 yards last week against Arizona, USC managed only 135 against Washington State.

Junior tailback Chauncey Washington finished with 71 yards in 18 carries and scored on a three-yard run.

Emmanuel Moody carried eight times for 69 yards, 48 coming on a third-quarter run that set up a touchdown.

Gary Klein

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

1. Mkristo matchup: Washington State defensive end Mkristo Bruce, who had five sacks last week against Stanford, got one against the Trojans. John David Booty was sacked three times, but stepped up and completed several clutch throws. USC did not sack Cougars quarterback Alex Brink.

2. Cool receptions: USC flanker Steve Smith had 11 receptions for 186 yards, both career bests, and caught two touchdown passes on a day the Trojans were without Dwayne Jarrett. Senior Chris McFoy caught the first touchdown pass of his career. Sophomore Patrick Turner had five receptions for 25 yards, but his first-quarter fumble set up a Washington State field goal. Cougars receiver Michael Bumpus, who played at Culver City High, had a career-best 11 receptions for 112 yards.

3. Turnovers: Washington State lost a fumble and Brink’s final pass was intercepted. Booty’s pass on the last play of the first half was intercepted. Turner lost a fumble, but Mike Brittingham saved the Trojans by recovering a ball that freshman Allen Bradford mishandled on a kickoff.