TROJANS RUN WILD

LINCOLN, Neb. - After waiting 29 years to face a top-ranked team at Memorial Stadium, Nebraska finally had its chance to knock off its first No. 1-ranked team since 1979.

And early in the game, it looked like Nebraska might have a chance to do it. The Cornhuskers jumped out to a 10-7 second quarter lead, exciting the sea of red that filled the stadium.

But that lead quickly dissipated as the Trojans scored 35 unanswered points to take a 42-10 lead in the third quarter and win the game easily.

USC used a dominating running game and a stifling defense to outrush No. 14 Nebraska by 282 yards, routing the Cornhuskers, 49-31, in front of a sellout crowd of 84,959 at Memorial Stadium.

"Once we got going, we just took control," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "I thought we took control up front, and I didn't think there was any question we could run the football at any time."

Any questions about the Trojans' running game were answered on their first offensive series of the game.

Fullback Stanley Havili took the first carry of the game 50 yards and running back C.J. Gable rushed for 40 yards on the next. The Trojans then jumped out to a 7-0 lead on Havili's touchdown catch by quarterback John David Booty.

The early runs were indicative of what was to come. The Trojans averaged 8.2 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns on the ground.

Booty threw for 144 yards on 19-of-30 passing and was never sacked, but a strong passing game wasn't needed with the rushing attack by the Trojans.

"We really felt good about what we were doing - we didn't have to throw the football at all," Carroll said.

Stafon Johnson rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries to lead the Trojans, and C.J. Gable rushed for 69 yards on only four carries. Johnson, Gable and Havili each averaged more than 10 yards per carry, while Chauncey Washington scored two touchdowns rushing.

"That was what we wanted to happen," USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "This game happened to be a game where we could run the ball and we took advantage of it."

USC used several misdirection plays and fake reverses to help freeze the defense and create bigger holes for the running backs to run through

"We tried to create some hesitation in their linebacker play," Sarkisian said. "We thought if we could get on their linebackers where they weren't coming downhill at us, we'd have a pretty good shot."

And while the Trojans had no problems establishing their running game, the Cornhuskers managed just 31 rushing yards, averaging a mere 1.1 yards per carry. The defensive line also held Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky to only 46 yards on 17 carries.

"I think the defensive line did a great job," nose tackle Sedrick Ellis said. "We just tried to stay in our gaps and stay consistent."

Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller threw for 389 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw two critical interceptions in the third quarter, which helped lead to the Trojans' rout.

On Nebraska's first possession of the second half Keller's pass was batted and intercepted by cornerback Terrell Thomas. The Trojans then scored five plays later on Booty's touchdown pass to tight end Anthony McCoy.

And on the Cornhuskers next possession, Keller threw right to defensive end Kyle Moore, who returned the interception to the one-yard line. Washington scored on a one-yard touchdown run to put the Trojans up 35-10 and the game was all but over.

"I think that's when we took control of the game totally," Carroll said of the two turnovers. "They didn't have a chance to get back in it after that."

The Trojans allowed three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but they came against the second-team defense.

But the Nebraska fans continued to cheer on the Cornhuskers throughout the game and many of the Trojans came away impressed by the atmosphere in Lincoln.

"The fans are great here and it was a great stadium to play in," Ellis said. "I just had a lot of fun."

Carroll, who celebrated his 56th birthday Saturday, echoed Ellis' sentiments.

"This is a great crowd; this is a fantastic setting to be in, there's no doubt about it," Carroll said. "It was a heck of a day."