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Show f v,Lr DAILY HERALD CS Saturday, September 18,2004 GAME. DAY: USC AT BYU it; mstliiiro Will Cougars dl0 BYU:B$ENSE VS USC DEFENSE WftKMrt Bkk back at quarterback, the BYU offense should be better than it was the past two weeks. But the offensive line needs to keep him healthy against what will be the most athletic front seven it will see all season. Last year against USC, Matt Berry found some holes and moved the Cougar offense pretty welL Beck needs to do the same, plus get Watkins or Collie deep a couple of time. The USC defense earned a shutout against Colorado State (49-0- ) but the Rams did move the ball at times. Turnovers, six of them, hurt CSLTs cause. Continued from Cl Watkins-on-Watkin- 37-1- EDGE A LOOK BACK AT HISTORY BYU DEFENSE VS. USC OFFENSE If the BYU defense that played against Notre Dame shows up, the young USC offense could struggle. If the defense that attempted to tackle Stanford is there today, USC will move the ball at win. BYlPs defensive line should be at least a match for USCs offensive line and USCs re- ceivers are inexperienced. A good combination for BYU to show up and crack some heads. The problem could be Heisman Trophy candidate Matt Leinart at quarterback. BYU made him look awkward at times last season and picked off three passes. But that's the same thing BYU did to Stanford's Trent Edwards in 2003 and he last Saturday. USC has threw for a career-higthree excellent running backs to chose from in Reggie Bush, LenDale White and the recently reinstated Hershel Dennis. Sept. 15, 1984 Cougar Stadium, Proyo, UT BYU 38 Tulsa 15 EDGE h 1 I fcfc BYU rankings: AP 8, UPI 6 I The teams: BYU entered the game with the nation's longest winning streak at 13 games. Miami had held that honor, but lost the week before, at Michigan. Tulsa had won four straight Missouri Valley Conference titles, and would go on to win its fifth straight title. I Key playstat After the BYU defense forced a punt on Tula sa's first possession, Vai returned the punt 89 yards for a touchdown to give BYU the lead for good. Sikahe-m- a also had a kickoff return to open the second half , leading to a BYU field goal. I The rest of the game: The BYU defense dominated Tulsa, coming up with two interceptions (both by Marv Allen) and a fumble recovery. The Cougars recovered a Tulsa fumble on their own 16 on a f ourth-and-intercepted one pass in their own end zone and forced the Golden Hurricane to go for field goals twice in the first half, once when Tulsa had at the BYU 17 and once when the Golden Hurricane had at the BYU 7. In the second half, Tulsa had a at the BYU 10 and eventually turned the ball over on downs at the 14. I Other key playsstats you may have forgotten: Robbie Bosco didn't take his first snap from center until 8:17 remained in the first quarter BYU kicked off to Tulsa, which went on an drive before punting. Sikahema returned the punt for a touchdown, and the Tulsa offense then returned to the field for a drive before punting. Bosco's first offensive series was three plays and out, but the next time the Cougar of-- fense took the field, he engineered an drive that TD pass to ended in a tight end David Mills. Bosco . ended up accounting for almost as many yards himself (334) as the entire Tulsa offense totaled (355). Sophomore wideout Mark Bellini caught six passes for 141 yards with a long of 61 yards. IBYU's record: with a winning streak. The impact With Michigan (No. 3 AP, No 2 UPI) and Iowa (tie 5, 5) both losing, the Cougars were able to move up to sixth (AP) and fourth (UPI). Clemson Nebraska Miami (3-- and Texas ( Ohio State ) were the only teams ahead of the Cougars in the AP poll, while Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma ) were ahead of BYU in the UPI poll (Clemson was on probation and not eligible for the UPI coaches e poll). BYU got one vote in the UPI poll. I Quote of the game: "I picked them fifth last week and I don't know how I'll vote this week until I see all the college scores, but it won't be any lower. L come from a school where it's hard to get recognition. If BYU continues to win, you're looking at one guy wholl vote them up there." John Cooper, Tulsa coach Sika-hem- Seriously, BYUs best chance may be to get close enough for Matt Payne to kick five or "six field goals. His kickoffs suffered at sea level against Stanford, which ran back one of them for a touchdown where the player wasn't even touched. So far, no big mistakes by BYlFs young returners but no big gains, either. USCs Tom Malone is one of the country's top punters, though the Trojans rarely use him Reggie Bush is a threat to break any punt or kick return for a big gainer. EDGE 65-ya- 1, INTANGIBLES ,. Darnell's pick: USC 38, first-and-1- 0 EDGE al 1 r.v BYU 17 Darnell Dickson, Daffy Herald Depth charts 80-ya- SOUTHERN CAL BRIGHAM YOUNG Offense XR TODD WATKINS FR JASON KUKAHIKO Antwaun Harris AUSTIN COLLIE Chris Hale DANIEL COATS Offense 1 26 15 RodWilkerson ZR TE , LT LG C RG QB RB 29 20 88 65 59 78 57 34 60 75 Dennis Pitta R.J. WILLING Eddie Keele BRIAN SANDERS Hanale Vincent LANCE REYNOLDS Scott Tidwell SCOTT YOUNG Travis Bright RT 14 9 JAKEKURESA Gary McGiven JOHN BECK ,76 MANAIA BROWN DANIEL MARQUARDT SHAUNNUA ORJohnDenney LIB BRADY POPPINGA Dan Bates MLB CAMERON JENSEN .' Matt Bauman Jeff Byers 53 FREDMATUA Drew Radovich TAITUSI LUTUI Kyle Williams ALEX HOLMES Nick Vanderboom MATT LEINART 51 Brandon Hance 60 71 75 81 87 11 4 TB David Kirtman LENDALE WHITE 21 FL STEVE SMITH 99 46 77 94 56 92 49 44 35 ,43 MicahAlba RC 63 67 67 12 Kayle Buchanon NATE S0ELBERG QB 73 35 BRANDON HEANEY SPENCER WHITE Dustin Gabriel CGR AARON FRANCISCO David Tafuna RK JON BURBIDGE , LC TE 37 Reggie Bush Greig Carlson DE 5 2 19 ' - MIKE PATTERSON Sedrick Ellis MANUEL WRIGHT 90 54 99 49 84 LaJuan Ramsey 52 SHAUNC0DY 96 FROSTEE RUCKER Jeff Schweiger NT DT DE SLB 52 Justin Luettgerodt QuinnGooch RT 60 LEE WEBB 36 41 24 28 33 21 37 25 13 22 34 RLB MARKELL STAFFIERI LK RG 79 Defense VinceFeula RE C 6 Michael Marquardt NT LG Dwayne Jarrett SAM BAKER Drew Radovich JOHN DRAKE Travis Watkins RYAN KAUL FB Defense LR LT 82 8 CHRIS MCFOY 73 "83 Matt Berry FAHU TAHI Curtis Brown SE first-plac- ; 58 BYU Greg Fair JASON LEACH Scott Ware CB (2-0- 92 RONALD NUNN Terrell Thomas 45 6 55 24 30 20 26 27 29 23 (2-0- ), (2-0- 42 41 Thomas Williams SS (2-0- DALLAS SARTZ MLB L0FATATUPU Oscar Lua WLB MATT GROOTEGOED Keith Rivers CB JUSTIN WYATT Kevin Arbet FS DARNELL BING MATT PAYNE K Trent Williams Oil Tuba P MATT PAYNE Jared H . DS McLaughlin RILEY WEBER Austin Collie JOHN DENNEY Justin luettgerodt PR BRYCE MAHUIKA Antwaun Harris KR ANTWAUN HARRIS Brett Cooper 5 P PK DS 14 16 RYAN KILEEN 16 Collins 59 50 TOM MALONE 14 MattCassel 10 Will H KR REGGIE BUSH Desmond Reed PR REGGIE BUSH Greig Carlson 5 22 5 19 On V 21-1- 8, rd 35-1- 0 ' 89 punt 7 past return (Johnson lack). from Bosco (Johnson lock), tun 1 (Johnson Mck). 30 FG, 402 11:53 2:06 6:27 30 FG, :33 TWrt Quarter 25 FG, 11:17 33 run (Johnson kick), 14:51 4 pew Irani Gaga (pass (ailed), 2:48 3 no (Johnson kick). 23 BYU TUUA 38 15 337 . Punts-- 6- Punt Ratum Funblat-Ua- - 42 - 36 Pananaa-yd- a V- ! - 1 Jl 1 I s FRANK BOTTDally Herald hopes to exploit the matchup between its wide receivers, like Austin Collie, above, and Todd Watkins (not shown), against USCs defensive backs in today's game. BYU ready to go, almost fully recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in the second quarter of the Notre Dame game. With Beck in the lineup, the Cougar offense should be more stable after using three quarterbacks John Beck, Berry and Jason Beck in the first two games. "All the quarterbacks have their own special guy they like to go to, but I have a connection with all three of them,? Coats said. "Whoever it is back there throwing the ball has the confidence to get it done. We have a great atmosphere here. Our fans are great. This is our house, our own backyard. Nothing phases you at your house." I Color coordination: BYU unveiled new uniforms before fall camp that allows for different combinations of tops and pants. BYU wore all blue at home against Notre Dame . and white tops with blue pants at Stanford. ' What will fans see against . USC? "Our team is a whole bunch of pretty boys," Coats said. "We have big discussions on what we should wear. We all like to look good. I think we'll wear the white tops and blue pants again sometime. Our uniforms look great and we looked great in that game. We know it (the outcome) had nothing to do with the uni- - , , forms, it was just the' way we played." Coats said he wants to go wTtrJw'hite pants and blue tops against USC but added, "We'll probably go all blue again." I (JSC City is the host for several events for USC fans and alumni, includ- ing Friday night's procession down Main Street by the USC marching band. The Provo Courtyard by Marriott will host a USC tailgate party at 4 p.m. today. I Cumberland College? As to the earlier reference, Georgia Tech beat Cumberland 222-in 1915, the largest margin of victory in a college football game. It's difficult to separate fact from myth, but one story concerns a Cumberland fumble late in the game. It rolled toward B. F. "Bird" Paty, later a prominent attorney. The fumbler shouted, 0 "Pick it up!" Paty replied, "Pick it up yourself, you dropped it." I Extra Points: BYU has 35 ' married players on its roster. USC has one. ... USC has re- - , tired the jersey numbers of its five Heisman trophy winners, but USC athletic director Mike Garrett gave safety Darnell Bing permission to wear his No. 20. ... At the start of NFL training camp this summer, there were 43 former USC players on team rosters. I Darnell Dickson reached at 344-255- 5 can be or by . ddicksonheraldextra.com Tuba, Bookar Boeco HSmrlh MSSMt-Tu- laa. Patty PKOVM8 5 p.m., A fumrivalry game, but it'll take more than some Aggie Utes, Utah pride to stop the 2-- 0 looks more and more like a team that is going to go undefeated. It's currently No. 15 in the Associated Press poll its highest ranking since 1994. How has Urban Meyer's team achieved such success? Simple. Scoring when it has had chances. His team is scoring inside the red zone, including six touchdowns. Expect a few more this weekend. Utah see Bring on Air Force. Franchuk secDtah 34 Utah State Franchuk sez: UNLV 23 10 Air Force at UNLV 8 p.m., no TV The first MWC league game comes between a couple of, vo. Count the storylines. BYU wide receiver Todd Watkins gets to see his brother, a Trojans of fensive lineman. Oh, and there's the return of USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow. He only spent 27 years at BYU. The way players and head coach Pete Carroll have talked, USC isn't rallying around the I Colorado St vs. Minnesota 8 p.m., ESPN2 From a booze standpoint, it was an interesting week for CSU. First the school announced it would be selling more potent beer at its games (there's no rule against MWC teams selling suds). Then Thursday the school reversed its stance and said it will stop selling it. Probably a wiser move, especially on the PR former Cougar. front'. inThe vestigations into the alcohol-relate- d studeath of a dent and two major riots near campus this fall. ' The Rams dont need beer, but surely would like to find an elixir'for their d problems. They're 2 after a at Colorado then a 49- 0 shellacking at USC the first time since 1997 CSU had been shut out. The Gophers come in for the first meeting between the schools, but a home game is just what the Rams need. It might be Hughes (Stadium) with no brews. But the crowd will see a victory. ; Franchuk sez: Colorado St. 24 Minnesota 17 changes-comeami- d on-fiel- 0-- The grandaddy of this week's games leadsthe nation's team to Protop-rank- Air Force 20 KJZZ USC 8 p.m., ESPN heart-break- er Nonetheless, it sure looks like Chow Time. It depends on how many quarterbacks BYU plays. If John Beck can return to the form he displayed against Notre Dame and do it for an entire game it could be vastly more interesting than last week's blowout at Stanford. If Beck stays healthy: Franchuk sez: USC 31 j Brigham Young 23 I If Beck gets hurt in the first half: i 2-- 0 BYU 20 . Gaga second half: Franchuk BYU 23 sec USC 34 ', soda-and-wat- I Jason Franchuk can be reached at jfranchuhheraldextra.com. 24:16 15"). Horton Fowtar Parkar Gaga BYU Bosco Tun, Kat) 15). oung 24, Brown Stephamon Mstwal Sdanoa F.WhrWignam 66, Stephenson 324, Rom Bookar Sasanoa Hsknul 144 Norton Smrti Heyaoart Dorothy Knot E Daily Herald 0. Sk ' ., I If Beck gets hurt in the LEADERS K Bsinl I Utah at Utah State I BYU vs. 100 36:44 MOfflOUAL BYU Continued from Cl The Rebels defense finally finds an offense it can stop. It won't be pretty for UNLV, but at least it's a win. 1 nTlma MHMt 8 65 Voa t Franchuk teams that have seen some seriously good competition in the first two weeks. Air Force received a thumping from top-1-5 California before taking on a much lighter opponent (Eastern Washington) for an easy victory. UNLV can't seem to find its offense, scoring only 20 points in its first two games. Of course, the competition at Tennessee, at Wisconsin might've had a little to do with that. FM (Yds RyanKileen ASHTON at 14 Rusnsa-Yd- a TOM MALONE COLLIN 18 J 7 14 27 Special teams 38 39 38 93 80 9 92 41 2 14 14 " BYlf387MSAl5 FkatDnmi Special teams Berry-to-Dani- 3-- 0 Lawrence Jackson . 0 . 22-1- 4, SPECIAL TEAMS A good performance, even in a loss, may provide a little momentum for BYU. A blowout could seriously damage the Cougars spirit going into a difficult road game at Boise State. If BYU is mad enough about looking terrible against Stanford, this game could surprise some people. But if BYU makes like last year's team, it will fold like origami when adversity strikes. BYU, meet your adversity, the No. USC Trojans. They are fast and athletic at every' position and would have to play way below potential for BYU to win the game.. , Todd (BYU) Watkins will face each other, although since both s play offense, a collision is unlikely. Then there's BYU, an upset winner over Notre Dame in its opener but a disappointing 0 loser at Stanford last week. Which team will show up? ' "I felt like we lost our composure last week," Crowton said. "We're looking for consistency. I felt we were very composed in the first quarter, then they got that big kickoff return. I dont think we played well in all areas. We identified where we had problems and pointed those things out to the team. Hopefully, the lessons have been learned." Last season in Los Angeles, USC jumped out to a 21-- lead in the first quarter because BYU kept turning the ball over. But BYU freshman K.C. Bills sacked Leinart for a safety late in the second period and the momentum began to turn. Arlatt Coats touchdown pass and three Matt Payne field goals brought BYU to within three, with just 7:05 to play in the game. But USC righted itself behind wide receiver Mike Williams, who caught a long pass on a key third-dow- n conversion, then an touchdown pass from Leinart with 4:11 to play. Another BYU turnover set up USCs final score with 1:40 left and the Trojans finished with a' 8 victory, a game that was a lot closer than the final score indicated. "Last year I was kind of messed up because I was in awe of the whole stadium and the crowd," Coats said. "I love their band. But I remember the' speed of the game was faster to me. We're way more calm ' for this game so it should turn out better." Coats caught eight passes for 114 yards last year, all from Berry, who will back up John Beck tonight. USC blasted Colorado State 49-last week and Crowton said he saw things in the game film to enhance his own game plan. "Colorado State did some good things and moved the ball," Crowton said. "But they had six turnovers. Turnovers are huge in every loss. Colorado State fell behind because of the turnovers and got out of their game plan. But there are a lot of matchups we like in this game." That would include BYUs experienced and deep defensive line against USCs huge but inexperienced offensive line, which includes massive former Snow College tackle 370 Taitusi Lutui pounds). B"U would also like to try and exploit any single coverage by USC on wideouts Watkins and Austin Collie. Crowton said he expects Game 1 starter John Beck to be W R ""i I H m K, |