Maualuga says Trojans can contain Penn State’s Clark

Back to work.

After a three-day holiday break, fifth-ranked USC returns today for its final week of practice for the Rose Bowl against sixth-ranked Penn State.

That means USC’s defense, the stingiest unit in college football, will begin to seriously prepare for Nittany Lions quarterback Daryll Clark and an offense that averages 40 points a game.

Clark has passed for 17 touchdowns with four interceptions and also has rushed for nine touchdowns.

The 6-foot-2, 231-pound junior from Youngstown, Ohio, ran for 61 yards in five carries against Oregon State, 50 yards in 11 carries against Illinois and 45 yards in nine carries against Michigan.

USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga said Clark’s mobility won’t bother the Trojans, who are giving up only 7.8 points and 206 yards a game.

“If we’ve got everything locked down in practice and everyone does their assignments, we should have no problem with the running quarterback,” said Maualuga, who has a team-best 73 tackles.

Maualuga said that based on what he had seen of Clark on film, he rated him ahead of Illinois quarterback Juice Williams. In the 2008 Rose Bowl, the Trojans controlled Williams and won, 49-17.

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Quick kicks

USC receiver Damian Williams (shoulder) and fullback Stanley Havili (ankle) are expected to practice today after being held out before the break.

USC has no players from Pennsylvania. Penn State has two Californians, offensive tackle Ako Poti, who played at Jefferson High in Daly City and City College of San Francisco, and cornerback Lydell Sargeant, who played at Lompoc Cabrillo High. . . . USC and Penn State will visit Disneyland this afternoon. . . . All of USC’s Rose Bowl workouts will be held on campus. Tentative schedule: today, 10:30 a.m.; Saturday, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 p.m.; Monday, 1:30 p.m.; Tuesday: 2 p.m.; Wednesday: 4:15 p.m. (Closed).

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gary.klein@latimes.com

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Postseason success

A glance at the bowl records of the two coaches facing off in the Rose Bowl:

PETE CARROLL (5-2)

*--* Season Bowl Opponent Result 2001 Las Vegas Utah L, 10-6 2002 Orange Iowa W, 38-17 2003 Rose Michigan W, 28-14 2004 Orange Oklahoma W, 55-19 2005 Rose Texas L, 41-38 2006 Rose Michigan W, 32-18 2007 Rose Illinois W, 49-17 2008 Rose Penn State Jan. 1 *--*

JOE PATERNO (23-10-1)

*--* Season Bowl Opponent Result 1967 Gator Florida State 17-17 1968 Orange Kansas W, 15-14 1969 Orange Missouri W, 10-3 1971 Cotton Texas W, 30-6 1972 Sugar Oklahoma L, 14-0 1973 Orange LSU W, 16-9 1974 Cotton Baylor W, 41-20 1975 Sugar Alabama L, 13-6 1976 Gator Notre Dame L, 20-9 1977 Fiesta Arizona St. W, 42-30 1978 Sugar Alabama L, 14-7 1979 Liberty Tulane W, 9-6 1980 Fiesta Ohio State W, 31-19 1981 Fiesta USC W, 26-10 1982 Sugar Georgia W, 27-23 1983 Aloha Washington W, 13-10 1985 Orange Oklahoma L, 25-10 1986 Fiesta Miami W, 14-10 1987 Citrus Clemson L, 35-10 1989 Holiday BYU W, 50-39 1990 Blockbuster Florida St. L, 24-17 1991 Fiesta Tennessee W, 42-17 1992 Blockbuster Stanford L, 24-3 1993 Citrus Tennessee W, 31-13 1994 Rose Oregon W, 38-20 1995 Outback Auburn W, 43-14 1996 Fiesta Texas W, 38-15 1997 Citrus Florida L, 21-6 1998 Outback Kentucky W, 26-14 1999 Alamo Texas A&M W, 24-0 2002 Capital One Auburn L, 13-9 2005 Orange (3OT) Florida St. W, 26-23 2006 Outback Tennessee W, 20-10 2007 Alamo Texas A&M W, 24-17 2008 Rose USC Jan. 1 *--*