Breakthrough Victory Mckenzie’s Late Heroics Stun Usc

With one hand, Kevin McKenzie reached up and wiped away four decades of futility, vaulting Washington State University to a historic 28-21 victory over Southern California on Saturday with one of the most memorable plays in 101 seasons of WSU football.

With the game tied at 21 and less than 5 minutes remaining, and with USC riding the momentum of a big second-half comeback, McKenzie caught Ryan Leaf’s pass with one hand, then sprinted down the middle of the field for a 51-yard touchdown.

“It’s one of the greatest catches I’ve ever seen,” ninth-year WSU coach Mike Price said.

WSU’s defense, which had been a force all game, held off the 23rd-ranked Trojans during the tense final minutes, and the Cougars celebrated a road victory over USC for the first time since 1957.

“Words can’t explain the feeling,” senior defensive end Dorian Boose said. “I was out there crying. I was trying to hold back, but it’s just a wonderful feeling.”

No one held back when the final horn sounded.

As most of the 51,655 paying customers left the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in disbelief, the Cougars gathered before a raucous WSU cheering section in the west end zone.

Offensive linemen Rob Rainville, Ryan McShane and Jason McEndoo formed a 930-pound dog-pile, rolling around in the grass like schoolboys during recess.

Nearby, a grizzled 57-year-old defensive coordinator named Bill Doba hugged senior safety Torry Hollimon and wouldn’t let go.

Assistant coaches Craig Bray and Larry Lewis embraced with the intensity of brothers who had been reunited after a lifetime apart.

Quarterback Ryan Leaf high-fived McKenzie repeatedly, then ran up the tunnel into the locker room - all the while yelling, “Who’s the only quarterback to beat SC?”

Price soon led players and fans in a spirited rendition of the school fight song, a tradition after WSU victories. The few USC fans still within earshot could only cast curious looks; none could remember hearing the lyrics before.

“The program could take a tremendous upturn from here,” said fifth-year senior receiver Shawn McWashington, who helped spring the game-winning touchdown by leveling USC’s Antuan Simmons with a highlight-reel block.

“They need a big recruiting class coming in. They’re losing 30-some-odd seniors, so we were here to get a win in L.A. on Fox (television). “I mean, that’s big.”

No play was bigger than McKenzie’s.

“The pass was a little high, so I just tried to jump as high as I could and get it,” said McKenzie, a senior. “The point (of the football) was in front of my hand, so I tipped it, hoping I would get under it, and I did.” If not for Leaf’s quick thinking, the play never may have come off.

“We had a run play called and Leaf audibled to throw a little hitch outside to Shawn Tims,” McWashington said. “The coverage took away Shawn Tims, the first choice, and so immediately Ryan threw it in there to Kevin.

“He put touch on the ball and Kevin made a great one-handed catch.”

Just like that, the Cougars had beaten both L.A. schools in a glorious three-week span, becoming the first WSU football team to beat UCLA and USC in the same season.

“We came down here with the same game plan as every year,” senior strong safety Duane Stewart said. “This year, we just ended up having a better team than they did. I’m just so excited.”

Through the first half, there was little doubt as to who had the better team.

The Cougars took a 21-6 halftime lead as Leaf threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The defense was also dominant through the first 30 minutes, holding USC to 22 yards rushing and just 115 passing.

But WSU, following a potentially disastrous trend, almost unraveled in the third quarter.

USC sophomore R. Jay Soward returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, marking the second straight season Soward has accomplished that feat against WSU. Last season, Soward’s 78-yard return sparked the Trojans to a comeback victory in Pullman.

This time, WSU’s defense played a major role in keeping the Trojans from sustaining their momentum. The USC running game, which had been bottled up during the Trojans’ 14-7 loss to Florida State last week, was again ineffective.

Even so, USC tied it at 21 early in the fourth quarter, with LaVale Woods’ 15-yard halfback pass finding Mike Bastianelli alone in the end zone. But from there, quarterback John Fox and the USC offense never made it past WSU’s 46-yard-line.

“We choked in a thousand areas,” said USC coach John Robinson.

Among the most significant gaffes: USC squandered all three second-half timeouts during the third quarter, keeping the Trojans from stopping the clock during the final minutes.

USC also committed 10 penalties.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 3 Photos (2 color)