Injury Ends Powdrell’s Season

A USC offense already perilously thin at fullback suffered another loss at that position with a season-ending injury to Ryan Powdrell in Saturday’s 28-10 victory over Nebraska.

Powdrell suffered a dislocated and broken ankle as defenders fell on top of him after he was tackled. He was taken to USC University Hospital and will undergo surgery, Coach Pete Carroll said.

Powdrell’s injury compounds the earlier loss of Brandon Hancock, who suffered a knee injury. The depth chart has been winnowed to unfamiliar names such as Stanley Havili, Mike Brittingham and Jody Adewale.

“We’ve got some work to do,” Carroll said. “We’ve got to be resourceful.”

-- David Wharton

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USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett was in no mood to talk about the ongoing Reggie Bush controversy Saturday.

Asked if he had anything to say about the matter, Garrett replied, “Not a thing. Not a thing.”

Running backs coach Todd McNair also was tight-lipped. A published report said he knew about the Heisman Trophy winner’s alleged relationship with a fledgling marketing company before last season’s national championship game.

“I would love to answer that, but there’s an ongoing investigation and we’ve been advised by counsel not to say anything,” McNair said.

-- Gary Klein

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Nebraska had been 10-0 under Coach Bill Callahan in games when the Cornhuskers scored the first points, but that streak ended Saturday night. Nebraska took an early 3-0 lead on a 38-yard field goal by Jordan Congdon.

Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor completed only eight of 16 passes for 115 yards against USC, but he pushed his career passing total to 3,257 yards and moved into sixth place on the Nebraska passing list.

-- Chris Dufresne

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Marlon Lucky, Nebraska’s starting running back from North Hollywood High, rushed for 27 yards in 10 carries but didn’t play after being part of a botched third-quarter handoff that resulted in a lost fumble by Taylor.

USC recovered and scored to take a 21-3 lead. Callahan called it a turning point. Lucky, his left arm heavily taped, said he was injured on the play.

“From what I understand he was out of the game and then he was cleared later in the game by the trainers,” Callahan said. “I think it was an elbow injury.”

-- Robyn Norwood