USC defeats Hawaii, 49-10, in opener

Marqise Lee got USC off to a fast start and the top-ranked Trojans never broke stride in a 49-10 season-opening victory over Hawaii on Saturday evening at the Coliseum.

Lee pulled in a short pass from Matt Barkley on USC’s first play from scrimmage, juked a couple of defenders and bolted down the left sideline for a 75-yard touchdown.

And he, like the Trojans, was just getting started. Lee, a freshman All-American last season, finished with 10 receptions for 190 yards. And he also took back a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown -- the third time that’s happened in USC history. (Anthony Davis did it twice.)

Barkley, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, also got off to a strong start, completing 24 of 29 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns. It was the eighth time in his USC career he passed for at least four touchdowns in a game.

Robert Woods made six catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Penn State transfer Silas Redd lost a fumble on one of his early carries, but he rebounded with a 31-yard touchdown run and finished with a team-high 57 yards in nine carries.

One thing that didn’t go well for USC was what happened after their touchdowns. Kicker Andre Heidari suffered what appeared to be a bruised knee in the first quarter and the Trojans went for two-point conversions after three touchdowns in the first half -- and failed each time.

Heidari returned to kick a 28-yard field goal at the end of the first half.

Hawaii played its first game under the direction of Coach Norm Chow, a former USC and UCLA offensive coordinator.

Sean Schroeder, a former Dana Hills High quarterback, completed 24 of 39 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown for Hawaii, but he had two passes intercepted. Hawaii also lost two fumbles.