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 Historical
artifacts just aren’t safe with USC in town. In the 59th Mobil Cotton
Bowl Classic, the Trojans literally rewrote history with their 55-14
sacking of Texas Tech. In slightly more than three and a half hours, the
Trojans established Cotton Bowl records for points (55), total offense
(578), passing yards (435), points in a quarter (28) and points in a
half (34). It was a classic display of textbook football. USC couldn’t
have asked for a better way to celebrate its first New Year’s Day bowl
appearance in five seasons. The Trojans combined an explosive offense
with a dominating defense and solid special teams play to record one of
the most awesome performances ever. A capacity crowd dressed
predominately in red and black filed into the Cotton Bowl to see the
Raiders play in the Classic for the first time since 1939. Fifty-six
years had passed since Tech’s last Cotton Bowl appearance. In those
days, the Red Raiders carried the banner of the Border Conference. But,
times had changed. Now, as Southwest Conference champions, Texas Tech
was representing the 80-year old league in it’s final Classic
appearance. An air of excitement engulfed the stadium as game-time
neared.
But, the festive mood ended abruptly for Texas Tech. It didn't take long
for USC to launch a suffocating attack that left the Red Raiders gasping
for air. The Trojans scored 21 of their 34-first half points in a span
of just 1:16. The floodgates opened when tailback Shawn Walters rumbled
11 yards around right end for the first USC touchdown (video). The scoring drive
covered 67-yards and it took the Trojans only four plays to reach the
Red Raider end zone. Things got worse for Tech on the ensuing kickoff.
Trojan linebacker Brian Hass slammed kick returner Stacy Mitchell to the
ground with a bonejarring hit. The ball popped loose and Gerald
Caruthers recovered for USC at the Texas Tech 19-yard line. Quarterback
Rob Johnson and the Trojans struck swiftly. On the first play from
scrimmage, fullback Terry Barnum circled out of the backfield and
Johnson’s pass was on target. Barnum bolted into the end zone and USC’s
lead shot to 14-0. Then came the knockout punch. Desperate to make
something good happen for the Raiders, quarterback Zebbie Lethridge
looked to throw on second down. Lethridge found his receiver but the
pass bounced off the hands of Matt DuBuc and into the waiting arms of
USC cornerback John Herpin. The speedy Texas native gathered in the
errant pass, cut toward the USC sideline and raced 26 yards for the
Trojans’ third touchdown.
In a matter of seconds, the Trojans had gained total control of the
game. Leading 21-0 and the clock down to 5:35, USC was rocking and Texas
Tech was reeling. The Raiders had run only nine offensive plays and had
come up empty every time. But, USC was just getting started, and so was
Keyshawn Johnson. The elusive, game breaking receiver added USC’s final
touchdown of the quarter with a spectacular, leaping catch in the corner
of the end zone. The 12-yard scoring play pushed the USC lead to 28-0.
Statistically, the Trojans’ first quarter performance was even more
imposing than the score. USC outgained the Raiders 235 yards to 17 in
total offense. Obviously, USC had the game well in hand and the only
doubt that remained was the final margin of victory.
For the day, Keyshawn Johnson set Cotton Bowl records with three
touchdown receptions and 222 yards on eight catches. He scored twice in
the third quarter. The first was a 22-yard strike from Rob Johnson, and
the second was an 86-yard bomb from backup quarterback Brad Otton, the
second longest touchdown pass in Classic history. With 9:23 remaining in
the third quarter, Rob Johnson retired to the USC sideline. His college
career had come to a storybook ending. Johnson threw for 289 yards and
three touchdowns, connecting on 16-of-21 attempts with no interceptions.
His 13.8 yards per attempt was the second best passing performance ever
in the Classic, and his .762 completion percentage was the Cotton Bowl’s
fourth-highest total.
Texas Tech managed to end the USC shutout late in the third quarter when
Lethridge scrambled five yards for a touchdown. Then, as the final gun
sounded to end the game, backup quarterback Sone Cavazos tossed a
45-yard scoring pass to Mitchell. After a bittersweet afternoon of
football, Red Raider fans finally had something to cheer about.
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Attendance-70,218
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
USC- Walters 11 run (Ford kick)
USC- Barnum 19 pass from Johnson (Ford kick)
USC- Herpin 26 interception return (Ford kick)
USC- Johnson 12 pass from Johnson (Ford kick)
Second Quarter
USC-FG Ford 39
USC-FG Ford 42
Third Quarter
USC- Johnson 22 pass from Johnson (Ford kick)
USC- Johnson 86 pass from Otton (Ford kick)
TT- Lethridge 5 run (Davis kick)
Fourth Quarter
USC- Diltz 2 pass from Otton (Ford kick)
TT- Mitchell 45 pass from Cavazos (Davis kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
USC- Walters 14-82, Sermons 12-32, Green 6-25, Washington 6-17
TT- Hanspard 9-36, Crain 2-22
Passing
USC- R. Johnson 16-21-289, Otton 8-14-146
TT- Lethridge 12-29-134, Cavazos 3-5-71
Receiving
USC- K. Johnson 8-222, Hervey 3-99, Parker 1-31, Barnum 1-19, Green
1-12, Diltz 2-13
TT- Darden 6-79, Mitchell 1-45, Bass 1-28, Scovell 1-25, DuBuc 1-10
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