Maualuga caps a strong effort

Rey Maualuga was harassing people to the last during USC’s 49-17 victory over Illinois in the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

Throughout the game, he was the constant companion of Fighting Illini quarterback Juice Williams, sacking him three times, as Trojans linebackers came up with one game-altering play after another.

But as the clock ticked down, Maualuga went after the guy who had the T-shirts and caps given to the Rose Bowl winners. He badgered and begged the man until he relented, handing Maualuga his souvenirs with two minutes left.

“I just wanted to make sure that when I went to the podium [after the game] that everything was not taken,” Maualuga said. “I just wanted to make sure I had something in memory of this game.”

Maualuga then looked at the defensive-player-of-the-game trophy in his left hand, smiled, and said, “I got this too.”

Maualuga wouldn’t share the credit for landing the T-shirt and cap. But the trophy, he said, was earned by the entire defense.

The Trojans gave up 445 yards to the Fighting Illini, who ran the type of spread offense that has given USC trouble in the past -- see Vince Young, Dennis Dixon, et al.

But the Trojans were in control throughout because of their linebacker rotation; Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Kaluka Maiava altered the game Tuesday.

Asked if there was a better linebacker group in college football, Maiava said, “No, I’m certain of that. I play with these guys. It’s ridiculous.”

The Illini might agree. The Trojans forced six fumbles, recovering two. They intercepted two of Williams’ passes and sacked him five times, and that was with All-American linebacker Keith Rivers slowed by an ankle injury.

“We knew their ball security was a little shaky coming into this game,” Cushing said. “We wanted to make sure to take advantage of it, do what could get the ball out. We knew if we got the ball a couple times we’d win, and we did.”

Of USC’s seven touchdowns, four followed turnovers. The Trojans’ linebackers had their hand in on two key ones.

With USC leading, 7-0, Cushing tipped a Williams pass into Maualuga’s hands, giving USC the ball at the Illinois 34. On the next play, receiver Garrett Green found a wide-open Desmond Reed for a touchdown on a gadget play.

In the third quarter, the Illini were at the USC 24 trying to cut the deficit to four points.

Williams completed a pass to Jacob Willis at the seven, but as he lurched forward, Maiava stripped him of the ball and Cushing recovered in the end zone. The offense drove 80 yards in nine plays for a touchdown that gave the Trojans a 28-10 lead.

“The momentum had shifted,” Maiava said. “We needed something there.”

USC linebackers have provided those moments throughout the season, with the Rose Bowl as their masterpiece.

“The whole group made a statement today,” linebackers coach Ken Norton said.

Maualuga had sacks on two consecutive plays in the second quarter.

Maiava, playing with a broken left hand, had one sack, breaking his right thumb on the play, yet stayed in the game.

“Tonight just shows what we are and what we’re capable of, you know,” Maualuga said. “There’s more to come.”

There will be for Maualuga, who said he wouldn’t declare for the NFL draft.

“The league isn’t going anywhere,” Maualuga said. “I have had the time of my life. If you leave, you can’t come back. Why not come back and do it again.”

And get more souvenirs?

“This,” Maualuga said, raising the defensive trophy, “is for all the guys. We all earned it.”

But the T-shirt and cap belonged to him.

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chris.foster@latimes.com