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Defense helps Southern California extend Pac-10 streak

Sep 24, 2006 - 3:38 AM TUCSON, Arizona (Ticker) -- Pete Carroll's offense struggled, but his defense made up for it.

Third-ranked Southern California limited Arizona to just 154 total yards - minus-16 on the ground - en route to a 20-3 victory in the Pac-10 Conference opener for both teams.

With the triumph, the Trojans extended their Pac-10-record winning streak to 24 consecutive conference contests and set a new conference record with a 12th straight league road win. Southern California also extended its school-record road winning streak to 17 games.

After Trojans defensive end Lawrence Jackson blocked a 46-yard field-goal attempt by Nicholas Folk, Mario Danelo connected on a 34-yard kick to give USC a 3-0 lead with 8:23 left in the second quarter.

The score remained unchanged until John David Booty found Dwayne Jarrett on a three-yard touchdown with 10:28 to go in the third quarter. It was Jarrett's 32nd career TD reception, tying the Pac-10 record of Stanford's Ken Margerum.

Danelo pushed a 26-yard field goal wide left late in the third quarter but made a 33-yarder for a 13-3 advantage with 9:43 to play.

True freshman Emmanuel Moody, who rushed for 131 yards, helped the Trojans (3-0, 1-0 Pac-10) cap their 48th victory in 50 games and fifth in a row over the Wildcats with a 10-yard TD run with 3:11 to play. The score came immediately after Dallas Sartz recovered a fumbled punt by Mike Thomas.

The score helped USC extend its NCAA record to 55 consecutive contests with at least 20 points. The Trojans, who had their lowest point total since a 27-20 loss to Kansas State on September 21, 2002, gained 202 yards on the ground and 381 overall.

In his first start since suffering concussion against Louisiana State two weeks ago, Willie Tuitama completed 14-of-23 passes for 170 yards and an interception for Arizona (2-2). He was sacked five times.

Booty went 24-of-39 for 181 yards, a TD and an interception.

The Wildcats were held to negative rushing yardage for the first time since November 16, 2002 at California, when they had minus-five yards on 32 carries. They had 19 rushes in this one.