Booty reports to duty

PULLMAN – Just four starts into his USC career, quarterback John David Booty has made a believer of head coach Pete Carroll.

“He’s done everything you’d expect a big-time quarterback to do,” said Carroll, after Booty passed for 269 yards and three touchdowns in the Trojans’ 28-22 victory over Washington State at Martin Stadium on Saturday.

“He can make the big play, he can convert on third down, he can make the pinpoint throw, and he can get out of trouble and be resourceful. He hangs onto the ball.”

Not to mention he can lead a 99-yard scoring drive.

Booty was at his best in crucial situations. Leading 14-12 in the third quarter, Booty directed a 99-yard march, punctuated by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith.

“That’s what you dream of,” Booty said. “You go 99 yards – you really can’t do much better than that. For us as an offense, it was a big moment for us.”

Booty said USC’s goal is to make two first downs in situations when the offense is backed up near its goal line.

“That gives you enough room to punt the ball,” he said. “Obviously, we were able to get more than that, and that was big.”

Booty was 4 of 4 for 37 yards on the series, including a 12-yard connection to Smith on fourth-and-10 at the WSU 36.

“He’s a guy that knows how to get the huddle going and he really knows how to keep his poise,” senior center Ryan Kalil said. “That’s important, because guys are really looking for that attitude from the quarterback. He does a great job of keeping us poised and letting guys believe we’re going to keep doing this and drive through.”

After WSU had trimmed USC’s lead to 21-15, Booty led the Trojans on an 83-yard scoring drive that chewed up 8:21 of the fourth quarter. He found Smith again for the touchdown, giving USC a 28-15 lead with 5:52 remaining.

On the possession, Booty completed 6 of 8 for 54 yards.

“Really, what stands out in my mind is those two guys (Booty and Smith) hooking up and making plays when they had to,” Carroll said. “Those two just stood out.”

Booty replaced Matt Leinart, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2004 and went 37-2 as a starter before getting drafted in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals. Before this season, Booty, a junior, had attempted 56 passes in 15 appearances as a backup.

While there still might be some questions about Booty in national circles, he has nothing but support in his own locker room.

“We have to catch up to John David,” Carroll said. “There hasn’t been a sequence where I felt like John David wasn’t in command.”