Peete’s Passing, Trojans’ Sacking Finish Off Bears

On an entertainment scale, the USC-California game probably wouldn’t rate with The Beach Boys’ concert later Saturday night at the Coliseum.

It was as one-sided as a game can be with the Trojans winning, 35-3, before a crowd of 73,937.

However, from an individual standpoint, USC quarterback Rodney Peete provided the entertainment--not appreciated by Cal--during the game.

Peete completed 22 of 29 passes for a career-high 305 yards and 3 touchdowns. He had 1 pass intercepted.

“He had a real Heisman day,” USC Coach Larry Smith said. “He was really threading the needle.”

Peete is, of course, a Heisman Trophy candidate, and in November the competition for the award becomes more meaningful.

Now, if Peete were playing against Cal every week he probably would be a runaway winner in the trophy race.

The Bears offered little resistance as the Trojans led, 28-3, at halftime, were a bit sluggish in the third quarter before scoring again in the fourth quarter.

By winning, second-ranked USC improved its overall record to 8-0--the school’s best start since the 1972 national championship season. Moreover, the Trojans still lead the Pacific 10 Conference with a 6-0 record--with 2 conference games remaining, Arizona State next Saturday at Tempe, Ariz., and UCLA Nov. 19 at the Rose Bowl. USC finishes the regular season in a nonconference game against top-ranked Notre Dame Nov. 26 at the Coliseum.

Cal (5-4, 1-4) was totally dominated by USC.

“We were beaten by a very good football team,” California Coach Bruce Snyder said. “I haven’t seen Notre Dame, or West Virginia very much, but I have a hard time believing there are many teams better than the one we played tonight.”

Reporters tried to get Smith to talk about the climactic games against UCLA and Notre Dame, but he wouldn’t have any part of it.

“I’ll only talk about Arizona State,” Smith said--and his players followed his lead.

As for the game, Smith said: “It was a good effort, a pleasing win. When you’re expected to win, sometimes there’s a letdown, but not today.”

The game began in mid-afternoon and finished under the lights with fog coming in.

And the Bears were in a fog for most of the game. Cal’s beleaguered quarterback, Troy Taylor, completed 16 of 27 passes for 171 yards and had 2 passes intercepted. However, he was sacked 10 times.

That’s what happens when a team doesn’t have a running game, allowing the defense to tee off on the quarterback.

With Taylor’s sack yardage figuring into the total rushing yardage, the Bears were a minus 20 rushing. USC came into the game ranked third nationally against rushing, and the Bears were discouraged on the ground early.

The Trojans set the defensive tone at the outset when strong safety Cleveland Colter intercepted a Taylor pass intended for tight end Darryl Ingram, then cut to the sideline for a 29-yard return to a touchdown.

Colter intercepted a Taylor pass last season and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown.

Before the first half ended, Peete teamed with tight end Scott Galbreath on a 42-yard touchdown pass play; tailback Ricky Ervins scored on a 2-yard run, and flanker John Jackson took Peete’s sharp pass for an 11-yard touchdown play.

The Bears could only counter with a 52-yard field goal by Robbie Keen, the ball hitting the crossbar and sliding over.

Peete lost a potential touchdown in the third quarter when his pass was intercepted on the Cal 8-yard line.

“I got a little greedy and tried to force it in,” he said.

But he came back in the fourth quarter to throw an 8-yard scoring pass to fullback Leroy Holt.

As for the Bears, they seldom threatened and when they reached the USC 18-yard line in the fourth quarter, the Trojan sack patrol pushed Taylor back 18 yards, negating the threat.

“When it was established they couldn’t run on us, we started doing some twists in the line and got some pressure on them,” USC defensive tackle Tim Ryan said. “I think everyone on the defensive line got a sack, and that’s including the outside linebackers.”

USC outside linebacker Michael (Tex) Williams led the way with 3 sacks.

Taylor had been sacked 26 times coming into the game, and Smith said he told his defensive unit last week, “If you’re worth your salt, you’ll come away with 6 sacks.”

His defense exceeded his expectations.

Cal managed to sack Peete twice, and the quarterback was almost apologetic when he said: “The protection was good tonight. I was hobbling a little bit because I got hit in the back in the Oregon State game last week and it was bothering me. So I couldn’t move around quite as much as I wanted.”

He was moving--and passing--well enough, though, to break his personal one-game yardage mark of 304 established last year in a 17-13 upset victory over UCLA.

Peete was spreading his passes around, throwing swing tosses to his running backs--Scott Lockwood, Ervins and Holt. Erik Affholter made some acrobatic catches, as usual, with 5 for 92 yards before leaving the game with a slightly sprained ankle in the third quarter.

Jackson caught 5 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown, and split end Gene Arrington, who hadn’t caught a pass since 1985 (he had knee problems since) won in a tug-of-war with Cal cornerback John Hardy on a 43-yard pass play to set up USC’s last touchdown.

Peete said that the touchdown pass he threw to Galbreath was identical to the one that the tight end caught in a 28-27 victory over Washington. “It was out in the flat, and Cal was blitzing like Washington was,” Peete said.

The Trojans have had a balanced offense this season and it was evident again Saturday.

Lockwood gained 69 yards in 12 carries, with Holt and Ervins adding 50 and 36 yards, respectively.

Other than Colter’s touchdown interception, USC’s scoring drives covered 87, 85, 58 and 64 yards.

“I’d like to think we’re starting to peak now,” Peete said. “November is when you have to, because this is when the championships are won.”

However, taking his cue from Smith, Peete wouldn’t look past Arizona State, a team that has beaten USC 5 times in 7 meetings.

Trojan Notes

Tight end Martin Chesley suffered a strained right knee after catching a 23-yard pass in the second quarter. . . . Strong safety Cleveland Colter reinjured his left knee while fielding a punt in the first quarter. He has been bothered by a cartilage tear in the knee. He didn’t return a punt the rest of the game, but continued to play on defense. . . . Wide receiver Erik Affholter and then tailback Scott Lockwood filled in for Colter as punt returning specialists. Lockwood was impressive with 42 yards on 2 returns. . . . With 5 catches Saturday, Affholter is No. 4 on the school’s all-time list with 102 receptions. . . . USC quarterback Rodney Peete threw 3 touchdown passes in a game for the third time this season.