Sanchez's four touchdowns lead Trojans' rout of Irish
Eugene, OR (Sports Network) - Jonathan Stewart gained 107 yards on 25 carries with two scores, and Matthew Harper had two key interceptions, including one with 11 seconds left to clinch No. 5 Oregon's thrilling 24-17 win over No. 9 Southern California in a key Pac-10 showdown.
Dennis Dixon completed 16-of-25 passes for 157 yards, and rushed 17 times for 80 yards and a score for Oregon (7-1, 4-1 Pac-10), which won its third straight after its lone loss, 31-24 to No. 18 California, to stay in the race for the national championship. Ed Dickson had five catches for 69 yards for the Ducks, who now eye next Saturday's clash with No. 7 Arizona State for a chance to take control of the Pac-10.
Mark Sanchez, starting in place of the injured John David Booty, completed 26- of-41 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns, but threw two crucial interceptions. Patrick Turner gained 107 yards on seven catches, one for a score, and Vidal Hazleton had eight catches for 88 yards for USC (6-2, 3-2).
The Trojans drove into Oregon territory late in the fourth quarter, looking to rally from 14 points down and force overtime. Sanchez moved USC from its own 17-yard-line to the Oregon 33-yard-line but on a 2nd-and-10 from the 33, he was picked off by Harper for the second time, ending all hopes for a USC comeback.
"I knew somebody had to make a play. We played championship defense. We didn't stop until the whistle blew and that's how we won," said Harper.
Oregon's Andiel Brown fumbled the opening kickoff, giving the Trojans the ball at the Oregon 21. USC head coach Pete Carroll opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the 12, though, and the Ducks stuffed a Joe Mcknight endaround, taking over on downs.
Dixon marched the Ducks on a 13-play, 72-yard drive to go on top late in the first quarter. Using a combination of Jonathan Stewart runs, Dixon runs, and Dixon passes, Oregon kept the USC defense off balance. Dixon ran up the middle and into the end zone untouched from two yards out after a deft play-fake, and Oregon took a 7-0 lead with 2:50 left.
Another Oregon special teams turnover again spotted USC great field position. On a Trojans punt, the ball bounced off the foot of Oregon's Garren Strong, and USC's Rey Maualuga fell on it at the Ducks' 34. The Oregon defense held USC out of the end zone, though, and David Buehler's 30-yard field goal made it a 7-3 game with 10:27 left in the second quarter.
The Ducks answered with an eight-play, 70-yard drive, but this time Oregon went for it on fourth down, a 4th-and-1 at the USC 11, and the Trojans stopped Jonathan Stewart for a two-yard loss and took over.
Oregon knocked on the door again late in the half, but after three Dixon incompletions from the USC 24, had to settle for a 41-yard Matt Evenson field goal, putting the Ducks up 10-3 with 15 seconds left in the half.
The Trojans went to the air on the opening drive of the second half, with Sanchez hitting Turner for gains of 22 and 23 yards before capping the 10-play, 62-yard drive with a jump ball that Turner pulled down for a USC touchdown. The nine-yard TD catch tied the game at 10-10 with 10:53 left in the third quarter.
USC's Stanley Havili had the ball ripped out of his arms as he fell to the ground after a two-yard rush later in the quarter, and the Ducks took over at the Trojans' 16-yard-line. Jonathan Stewart needed only two plays to convert the turnover into a touchdown, rushing for no gain before breaking through the middle of the USC defense for a 16-yard scoring run, and the Ducks went back on top, 17-10, with 5:25 left in the third quarter.
The Trojans looked poised to again tie the game, as they moved to the Oregon 29-yard-line on their next drive. On a 2nd-and-1 from the 29, though, Sanchez was picked off by Harper, who returned it 27 yards to the Ducks' 42- yard-line.
Oregon again converted a USC turnover into a score, as the Ducks drove 58 yards on 10 plays, aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty that set Oregon up at the USC 15. On a 3rd-and-6 from the USC 11, Dixon ran for eight yards and the first down. Dixon gained two yards on the next play, but was stopped for no gain on second down, setting up a 3rd-and-goal from the one. Jonathan Stewart banged in from one yard out, though, giving the Ducks a 14-point lead with 11:39 left.
"When you give teams the ball it's so hard to win, especially with a team that's as loaded as Oregon is," said Carroll.
Mark Sanchez and the Trojans circled the wagons, though. The USC quarterback threw an incomplete pass to Turner from the Trojans 15 before completing four straight passes -- of 19, 28, and 24 yards -- before hitting David Ausberry on a 14-yard scoring pass to pull the Trojans within seven points with 4:44 left.
Game Notes
This was the first matchup of two top-10 teams in the 41-year history of Autzen Stadium...Chauncey Washington led USC on the ground with 42 yards on 11 carries...The Trojans outgained the Ducks, 378-339...USC hosts Oregon State next Saturday before traveling to Cal on Nov. 10.
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