Ducks intercept USC’s chance at win

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon defensive back Matthew Harper could sense it. Southern California was trailing by touchdown and on the march in the final moments.

The home fans were on their feet, urging the Ducks to make the one last play it needed to take down the kings of the Pac-10.

Harper was confident.

“We knew somebody would make the play, and luckily it was me,” he said.

Harper’s interception on USC’s final drive preserved a 24-17 victory and put No. 5 Oregon on the short list of national title contenders.

As for No. 9 Southern California, just defending its Pac-10 title could be a long shot at this point.

Jonathan Stewart ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns and Dennis Dixon completed 16 of 25 passes for 157 yards for Oregon (7-1, 4-1). Dixon also ran for 76 yards and a touchdown.

The Ducks, who came into the game ranked second nationally in total offense, managed only 339 yards – more than 200 below their average – against the Trojans’ third-ranked defense. But it was turnovers, including a fumble recovery and a pair of interceptions, that gave Oregon the advantage over Southern California (6-2, 3-2).

USC came into the season ranked No. 1 and a heavy favorite to play for a national title. But USC was an underdog coming into this game, the first time since 2001 the Trojans weren’t favored against a Pac-10 team.

“They have been top dogs,” Stewart said. “But this is a different year.”

Mark Sanchez, making his third start for the Trojans in place of the injured John David Booty, completed 26 of 41 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns, but the misfires hurt.

“If you look at this game, turnovers were the story for us,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “In the second half when you have to play right and do things right, we gave them a couple easy shots and they took advantage and played a very good football game.”

It was the first time in Autzen Stadium’s 41-year history that two top-10 teams played. The game drew a stadium record of 59,277 fans, including former Ducks Joey Harrington, now with the Atlanta Falcons, and Haloti Ngata, who is with the Baltimore Ravens.