USC defense keys win

TUCSON, Ariz. – Southern California coach Pete Carroll is a defensive coordinator at heart.

So Carroll said he wasn’t the least bit concerned when his third-ranked Trojans took a 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime Saturday night against Arizona. Nor was he surprised when USC pulled away in the second half for a 20-3 victory, extending its Pac-10 Conference-record winning streak to 24 games and setting a record with its 12th straight conference road win.

It wasn’t as exhilarating as many of USC’s victories last year, when the Trojans blitzed opponents with a high-powered offense. But it made Carroll every bit as happy.

“I love the fact that we’re playing defense like this three straight weeks,” Carroll said. “We’re playing like crazy.”

The Trojans (3-0) limited Arizona to 154 yards, including minus-16 yards on 19 rushes. Arizona converted only two of 12 third downs.

“That’s awesome consistency and discipline about those guys,” Carroll said.

The Trojans have allowed 27 points in their first three games. Asked if the defense was carrying the Trojans, quarterback John David Booty said, “Defense wins championships. If that’s the case, I want to have a good ‘D’ here. If they want to carry us, that’s fine with me.”

Leading 3-0 at intermission, the Trojans made it 10-0 when Booty hit Dwayne Jarrett for a 3-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter. It was Jarrett’s 32nd career touchdown catch.