Johnson carries rushing load for Trojans
In an illustration of how few carries USC tailback Stafon Johnson usually receives, the junior set a season-high for carries in the third quarter against Arizona and finished with a career-high 19 carries for 83 yards.
Johnson's career high entering the game was only 15 carries. But against Arizona he was USC's top back, as he scored a touchdown and delivered a key block that allowed quarterback Mark Sanchez to throw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Stanley Havili in the third quarter.
"That was his best game since he's been here, as far as I'm concerned,"
USC coach Pete Carroll said.
Johnson, who never complains about a lack of carries, remained humble afterward.
"It was just my turn to get my number called,"
he said. "The team needed me, and it could have been one of the other guys."
The play he remembered most was his block.
"I almost missed him,"
Johnson said. "And I didn't want that to happen."
Long drive: USC's 17-play drive in the second quarter was its longest scoring drive of the season, ecipsing a 15-play drive against Virginia in the season opener.
Back in the game: Former offensive line starters Butch Lewis and Zack Heberer entered the game in the second quarter. Lewis played most of the game, taking over for starter Nick Howell. Sophomore linebacker Malcolm Smith (Taft) also made an earlier-than-usual appearance in the second quarter.
Night mark: USC is now 8-0 in night games against Arizona, with six of the victories coming at Arizona Stadium.
History lesson: Arizona was involved in what is reputed to have been the first college football night game ever. Back in 1905, at Fiesta Park (Grand Ave. and Pico Blvd.) in Los Angeles, Arizona was shut out, 54-0, under the lights, by St. Vincent's College, which was, at that time, located across the street. St. Vincent's is now known as Loyola Marymount.
More history: Back in the 1910 s and '20 s, Arizona played USC seven times, losing each time. The first game between the two schools was played at the Phoenix Indian School in 1916; the remaining contests took place in Los Angeles. After USC's 78-7 victory over Arizona in 1928, the Wildcats, like Pomona, Occidental, Whittier, and Cal Tech, were dropped from the Trojans' schedule.
Another California connection with Arizona history was its very first opponent at Arizona Stadium. On October 12, 1929, Arizona shut out Cal Tech, 35-0.
Cal Tech had, before that time, been a frequent, unsuccessful (1-11-1) opponent of USC, with the Trojans' last game against the Pasadena school in 1927.
Pass instead of run: Big rushing performances have not historically translatde into victories for USC against Arizona.
The Trojans' best-rushing performance against Arizona was Marcus Allen's 211 yards in 1981. It was not enough, though, as a No. 1-ranked Trojan team fell 13-10 to Arizona, USC's first loss to the Wildcats.
USC's second-best rushing performance against Arizona was 185 yards by Estrus Clayton in 1991, but it was not enough to avert another loss to the Wildcats.
Career day: Former USC wide receiver Mike Williams set USC's top marks for receptions (11) and receiving yards (157) against Arizona in 2003.
