University Southern California Trojans
USC Football Versus San Diego State
September 17, 1999 | Football
Sept. 17, 1999
LOS ANGELES - Southern California fans who liked the Trojans' high-scoring victory in their season opener should stay tuned.
USC routed Hawaii 62-7 two weeks ago and, after a bye, is heavily favored again Saturday against San Diego State at the Coliseum.
"Hopefully we can do the same thing we did to Hawaii," tailback Chad Morton said. "Hopefully we can score a lot of points, too, maybe even more.
"If we wanted to, we probably could have scored 100 points (against Hawaii). We want to put that fear in other teams and show we're capable of scoring a lot of points."
Trojans coach Paul Hackett isn't quite as confident as his tailback.
"After one game, it's pretty hard to judge where you are or what you're doing," he said.
The 17th-ranked Trojans are favored by 23 points over San Diego State (1-1), a 38-10 loser to Illinois last weekend.
Morton, who carried 19 times for 95 yards and one touchdown in the Trojans' 529-yard day against Hawaii, believes San Diego State will have plenty of motivation. USC beat the Aztecs 35-6 last year.
"It's a little bit scary just because they want revenge against us," Morton said. "They have a lot of guys back. A lot of their guys are from LA and they probably love playing in the Coliseum against us.
"A lot of them probably wanted to go to USC and they couldn't, so it's their chance to show that they belong here."
Hackett said: "Many of our players went to high school with their players. They'll come in here with some fire in their eyes because I'm sure they feel they could've played us a lot better last year."
San Diego State coach Ted Tollner probably would relish beating the school that fired him as head coach after four seasons - and three bowl appearances - in the 1980s.
Last year's San Diego State game against the Trojans, just the second ever between the schools, saw Tollner's return to the Coliseum spoiled by the one-sided loss.
The Aztecs coach realizes beating the Trojans this year won't be easy.
"They're an improved team," Tollner said. "Offensively, I they're dramatically improved, mainly because they've got everybody back."
Included is sophomore quarterback Carson Palmer, who was 14-of-16 for 167 yards and one TD while playing just over half the game against Hawaii.
"Palmer looks like he has a great future," Tollner said. "I was impressed with him when he got into our game last year, just as a pure freshman.
"A year later, you can see tremendous improvement in his control of himself, an ability to control the ball."
Palmer, Morton and wide receiver-returner R. Jay Soward combine to make USC imposing on offense.
Soward, a senior who has averaged one touchdown about every seven times he's touched the ball at USC, had 256 all-purpose yards and scored three times against San Diego State last year.
The Aztecs, members of the new Mountain West Conference, are led by the running back tandem of Brian Russell, who averaged 6 yards a carry in the first two games this year, and Jonas Lewis. Together, they've accounted for 252 yards of San Diego State's 309 rushing yards in the two games.
The Aztecs will be trying to end one extremely long losing streak, they haven't won a non-conference game on the road since 1981, dropping 25 straight.
Still, even Morton realizes this game isn't a gimme for the Trojans.
"We really have to stay focused because we could easily lose if we're not doing things right, and it could ruin our whole season," he said.
By KEN PETERS
AP Sports Writer
