Southland’s Moore leads upset

The last time Matt Moore played against USC, he was a freshman at UCLA and on the losing end of a rout.

On Saturday, the fifth-year senior quarterback from Valencia showed the Trojans and the nation just how far he has progressed by leading Oregon State to a 33-31 upset victory over third-ranked USC at Reser Stadium.

The Beavers’ victory spoiled USC’s hopes for a third consecutive undefeated regular season.

Moore, who was booed at Reser Stadium during a loss against Washington State three weeks ago, completed 21 of 32 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown.

“I’m so stoked right now, I can’t explain it,” he told the Associated Press.

Teammates and coaches were not at a loss for words after 6-foot-4, 193-pound Moore avoided the mistakes that have plagued him.

“I think he had the best game I’ve ever seen him play,” said tight end Joe Newton, whose nine-yard touchdown reception early in the third quarter started a run of 17 unanswered points that gave the Beavers a 33-10 lead. “We won and he stayed cool under pressure and made unbelievable throws all day long.”

On the first play of the game, Moore completed a 22-yard pass to receiver Sammie Stroughter. Moore completed all seven of his attempts during a 69-yard, 10-play scoring drive that he capped with a one-yard scramble into the end zone.

“Right from the first throw of the ballgame, he was just threading the needle on a lot of critical plays,” USC Coach Pete Carroll said.

Moore, a former star at Newhall Hart High, played two seasons at UCLA, then left after the 2003 season. He attended College of the Canyons in 2004 but did not play football before transferring to Oregon State.

Last season, he passed for 2,711 yards and ranked second in the conference behind USC quarterback Matt Leinart in passing yards per game. But 19 of Moore’s passes were intercepted.

He entered Saturday’s game having thrown for 1,271 yards and six touchdowns with six interceptions. But Moore played mistake-free despite absorbing six sacks.

“He is a competitor. He is as tough as they come,” Oregon State Coach Mike Riley said.

Moore is one of 45 Oregon State players from California and was not the only Southland product who hurt the Trojans. Junior Alexis Serna, who played at Fontana Miller, kicked field goals of 47, 31, 53 and 20 yards.

Sophomore free safety Bryan Payton, who played at West Covina South Hills, foiled a USC threat in the first quarter when he intercepted a pass from John David Booty that was intended for Dwayne Jarrett in the end zone. Payton returned the ball 52 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Isaiah Cook, who played at Claremont, recovered two of the Trojans’ four fumbles.

USC was the highest-ranked team Oregon State has defeated since beating No. 1 USC, 3-0, in 1967. The 33 points Oregon State scored were its most against USC since a 38-6 victory in 1914, the first game of the series.

On Saturday, it was Moore who led the way.

“He’s a warrior,” said Stroughter, a Sacramento native who caught eight passes for 127 yards. “We’re going to stay with him for life.”

gary.klein@latimes.com