University Southern California Trojans
Malaefou MacKenzie Will Miss Rest of USC Football Season
June 21, 1999 | Football
Sept. 1, 1998
LOS ANGELES--Sophomore Malaefou MacKenzie, USC's backup tailback behind starter Chad Morton, will miss the rest of the 1998 football season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in last Sunday's season- opening 27-17 victory over Purdue, USC head coach Paul Hackett announced today.
MacKenzie, who had 28 yards on 7 carries against the Boilermakers, suffered the injury in the third quarter while making a cut and falling untouched on a 2-yard run.
He'll have surgery on Friday.
In his place, junior Petros Papadakis will likely serve as Morton's backup. Junior Jabari Jackson and true freshman Frank Strong also figure to move into the tailback mix.
USC has a bye this week before hosting San Diego State--led by former Trojan head coach Ted Tollner--on Sept. 12 in the Coliseum at 7:30 p.m.
