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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bush and Leinart making USC proud


New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush runs away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defender Julian Jenkins on Sunday. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

Reggie Bush finally got into the end zone for the first time as an NFL player – and at a critical time. Matt Leinart didn’t waste any time in his first start to throw the first scores of his career.

Both former USC stars played big roles Sunday – Bush in a win, Leinart in a loss.

Bush, the New Orleans Saints’ rookie running back, scored his first touchdown as a pro on a 65-yard punt return with under five minutes remaining to give the Saints a 24-21 lead over Tampa Bay on Sunday. New Orleans went on to win by that same score.

Leinart, the Trojans’ quarterback who slipped to No. 10 overall in the draft before he was taken by the Cardinals, was named the starter last week after another turnover-laden performance by Kurt Warner.

In his first series as the starter, Leinart threw a 49-yard scoring pass to Anquan Boldin. Later in the quarter, he hit Larry Fitzgerald with a 5-yard touchdown strike.

Down 23-20 with time running out in the fourth quarter, he also led the Cardinals on a drive that gave Neil Rackers a shot at a tying field goal from 51 yards. But the kick was wide right and time expired.

Harrison breaks another receiving record

Marvin Harrison’s first catch against the Tennessee Titans in Indianapolis gave him a reception in his 159th consecutive game, an NFL record to start a career.

Harrison broke the previous mark of 158 established by former Colts and St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk.

Harrison broke Faulk’s record with a 3-yard reception with 11:33 left in the third quarter. In the last two weeks, Harrison moved from sixth on the career receptions list to fourth.

He finished with three receptions and scored his first touchdown of the season on a 13-yard pass play.

Big-name players go down with injuries

Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson was injured on a facemask tackle at the end of a 78-yard pass play late against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. Johnson broke free down the left sideline after the short pass. The Cardinals’ Antrel Rolle grabbed Johnson by the facemask and the running back’s head was twisted as he fell out of bounds at the Arizona 8. He lay motionless for a moment, but eventually got up and left the field under his own power. … Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald left in the first half against Kansas City with a right hamstring injury. Fitzgerald was hurt late in the first half, shortly after catching a 5-yard touchdown pass. … Lions leading receiver Roy Williams hurt his upper back on his team’s first possession and left the game against the Vikings in Minneapolis. Williams caught a first-down pass from Jon Kitna on a slant pattern near midfield, and Minnesota safety Darren Sharper finished the play with a hard hit to the upper part of Williams’ back. … Carolina Panthers rookie running back DeAngelo Williams left the game in Charlotte, N.C. against Cleveland after injuring his right ankle on a first-half carry. Williams, a first-round draft pick, was hurt when he went down in a pile on a 4-yard gain in the second quarter. He was carted to the locker room after being examined behind the bench.