Post Game Notes

Sept. 28, 2002

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Sept. 28, 2002

USC improves to 3-1 on the season and opens at 1-0 in the Pac-10. Oregon State falls to 4-1 and 0-1.

It's the first time Oregon State has been shut out since 1997, when USC defeated the Beavers, 23-0.

USC has now won 13 of the 14 times in which it has faced an undefeated Oregon State team.

USC has shut out its opponent in two of its last three home games (its last shutout was against UCLA at the end of last season). In USC's last five home games (all wins), the Trojans have won by an average score of 27 to 9. It's USC's first shutout in a Pac-10 opener since beating Oregon 56-0 in 1976 and the first time USC has shut out Pac-10 foes in back-to-back conference home games since 1982 when USC beat Oregon State, 38-0, and California, 42-0, in the Coliseum.

USC's defense-ranked third in the nation (and first in the Pac-10) in total defense coming into the game at 229 ypg--held Oregon State, which was averaging a Pac-10 leading 499.75 yards per game (second in the nation) and 47.5 points per game to just 131 yards and eight first downs.

USC's passing defense came into the nation ranked No. 1 in passing yards allowed (108 ypg) and lived up to that status against Oregon State. Beaver quarterback Derek Anderson was second in the nation in pass efficiency (183.24) and was averaging 300 yards per game passing coming into the game, but he was held to just 80 yards on eight of 29 passing.

After four games this season, the USC defense is now giving up an average of just 205 yards per game (101 passing, 104 rushing) and 11.7 points per game.

The USC defense has put together some stellar halves of football this year. In second halves this year, Troy gave up just 35 yards against Auburn, seven yards against Colorado and 33 yards against Oregon State. The Trojans gave up just 118 yards of total offense against Kansas State in the first half of that game.

The Trojan offense held the ball for 37:55-the third time this season it has won the time of possession battle.

With 229 yards of total offense in the game, Palmer moves past Rodney Peete into first place on the all-time USC total offense chart with 8,725 yards.

With his 231 passing yards, Palmer moves into sixth on the all-time Pac-10 passing yardage chart with 8,839.

Senior wide receiver Kareem Kelly has now caught a pass in all 39 games he has played in for USC, extending his own Trojan record.

Sophomore placekicker Ryan Killeen kicked the first three field goals of his career, a 43-yarder and a 42-yarder in the second quarter and a 32-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Freshman wide receiver Mike Williams caught the first two touchdown passes of his career, an 11-yarder in the second quarter, and a 16-yarder in the third quarter, both from Carson Palmer.

The USC defensive line combined for seven tackles for a loss (totaling 29 yards), four sacks, two deflections, a forced fumble and two recovered fumbles while helping hold OSU to 51 net rushing yards.

Redshirt freshman cornerback William Buchanon made his first career start and had two tackles, including one for a loss of four yards, and a pass deflection.

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