Smith strong, then silent

USC flanker Steve Smith spent two weeks trying to get his sore ankle healthy so he would be at full strength against Oregon State.

The senior tweaked his ankle twice Saturday against the Beavers but finished with 11 receptions for 258 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans’ 33-31 loss.

Quarterback John David Booty and Smith connected on a 53-yard pass play in the first quarter, the Trojans’ longest play of the season.

Smith’s yardage total was the second-most in USC history, trailing only R. Jay Soward’s 260-yard performance against UCLA in 1996.

Afterward, Smith declined to comment about the game’s outcome or his performance.

Split end Dwayne Jarrett, also healthy for the first time in weeks, had four receptions for 63 yards.

“It was great to have D.J. and Steve both out there tonight and I think you see the type of offense we’re capable of having when those guys are out on the field together,” said Booty, who completed 24 of 39 passes for a career-best 406 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

*

Linebacker Rey Maualuga did not play with the Trojans’ defensive unit in the first half. He said he was serving punishment for arriving late to a 9:15 a.m. special teams meeting Friday.

“An alarm didn’t go off, coaches reacted and punished me by keeping me on special teams,” Maualuga said.

Maualuga played in the second half, but he limped to the sideline during the Trojans’ final defensive series.

“I sort of popped my inner groin area,” Maualuga said. “I tried to run on it and it wasn’t too good.”

When asked if he could have played if the Trojans had managed to send the game into overtime, he said, “I doubt it, no. I’m just going to go through the weekend, try to walk on it, try to run on it and come Monday if it’s good to go, [I’m] good to go for Stanford” Nov. 4.

*

After recording only nine sacks in the first six games, USC had a season-high six against the Beavers.

Linebacker Dallas Sartz led the way with three. Nose tackle Sedrick Ellis, defensive lineman Fili Moala and linebacker Keith Rivers each had one.

Moala’s sack of Matt Moore on a third-down play forced Oregon State to settle for a 47-yard field goal that gave the Beavers a 10-7 lead.

On Oregon State’s next possession, Rivers sacked Moore on third down, forcing the Beavers to settle for a 31-yard field goal.

Lawrence Jackson remains without a sack after Moore escaped his grasp in the first quarter and shoveled a pass to running back Clinton Polk.

Nick Holt, USC’s defensive coordinator, was pleased with the increased pressure, but was still disappointed.

“We got some sacks but we didn’t get a sack that caused a fumble and we didn’t get an interception,” he said.

*

Polk made his first start, subbing for injured Yvenson Bernard, the conference’s second-leading rusher.

Polk, a junior college transfer, had 100 yards in 22 carries.

“I was really nervous at first, but after getting my feet wet and getting a couple carries and blocks, I was ready,” he said.

*

Sammie Stroughter’s 70-yard punt return for a touchdown for Oregon State was his third this season, tying a Pacific 10 Conference record.

Stroughter caught eight passes for 127 yards.

gary.klein@latimes.com

j.a.adande@latimes.com