Trojans on the run

LINCOLN, Neb. – Top-ranked Southern California ran through, around and all over Nebraska.

Stafon Johnson ran for 144 yards and one of USC’s five rushing touchdowns and John David Booty threw two short TD passes in a 49-31 victory Saturday night.

The Trojans (2-0) piled up 313 yards rushing and won for the 61st time in 67 games. It was a thoroughly impressive performance and more one-sided than the final score showed.

“Once we got going, geez, we just took control,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “Everything we wanted to get done we were able to get done.”

USC lost some support to LSU on the polls last week, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Trojans recoup some of those first-place votes when the new Top 25 comes out today.

The 14th-ranked Huskers (2-1), playing host to a No. 1-ranked team for the first time since 1978, came into the game in search of a breakthrough victory for fourth-year coach Bill Callahan. They’re still looking after dropping to 1-10 all-time against No. 1s and 0-6 under Callahan against teams ranked in the Top 10.

USC’s 49 points were the third-most scored by an opponent in Lincoln.

“We’ve got to get better. We’ve got to get better,” Callahan said.

The Trojans broke open the game by scoring three straight touchdowns in the second half, the first two set up by interceptions.

USC led 49-17 in the fourth quarter, but Sam Keller led two touchdown drives against the Trojans’ prevent defense to close the gap.

USC running backs broke off 12 runs of 10 yards or more, including six of 20 or longer.

The Trojans’ rushing total was their most since getting 403 against UCLA in 2005 and the most allowed by Nebraska since Texas had 353 in 2003.

Nebraska, which ran for 68 yards in a 28-10 loss at USC last year, netted just 31 yards on the ground.