University Southern California Trojans
Trojans Down Stanford Aerial Attack
June 21, 1999 | Football
November 7, 1998
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Southern California shut down the prolific Stanford passing offense and forced four turnovers, including a fumble returned 18 yards for a touchdown by Aaron Williams, in a 34-9 victory on Saturday.
Stanford (1-8, 0-6 Pac-10), which lost a sixth straight game for the first time since 1983, came into the game eighth in the nation in passing with 343 yards per game. But the Cardinal managed just 166 against the Trojans, who began the day fourth in the nation against the pass.
The Trojans (7-3, 5-2) also got scoring runs of 1 and 3 yards by Petros Papadakis, an 8-yard scoring pass from Carson Palmer to Windrell Hayes and field goals of 37 and 40 yards by Adam Abrams.
Todd Husak threw a 4-yard scoring pass to Troy Walters for the Cardinal, but had his worst passing game of the season. Husak, who was averaging 316 yards passing per game, was 18-of-33 for 138 yards. He had one intercepted and fumbled twice, and was replaced by Joe Borchard early in the fourth quarter.
The Trojans played nearly the entire game without their most explosive offensive player, wide receiver R. Jay Soward, who sprained his right ankle on the third play of the game while being tackled after catching a pass.
Soward, who also returns kickoffs and punts for Southern California, did not return to the game.
Southern California opened the game with a 61-yard drive that culminated in Papadakis' 1-yard run on fourth down. Stanford responded with Walters' scoring catch.
Daylon McCutcheon's interception set up Southern California's next score, the 37-yard field goal by Abrams, and the Trojans took a 17-7 lead in the second period when Husak fumbled on a sack by Zeke Moreno and Williams picked up the loose ball and rumbled into the end zone.
Abrams added his second field goal in the third quarter and Hayes caught his scoring pass early in the fourth period after another fumble by Husak.
Stanford linebacker Donnie Spragan tackled Palmer in the end zone for a safety with 5:35 remaining. Papadakis added his second score, on a 3-yard run, with 15 seconds left.
By ROB GLOSTER
AP Sports Writer
