After an opening drive by the Washington State Cougars that featured a 23-yard run by quarterback Jeff Tuel on third down, and a 30-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Jeffrey Solomon to Jeff Karstetter, they tried an onside kick but unfortunately for them the kick fell out of bounds.
USC took the ball at their own 41 in a three-wide receiver set, and Bill MacDonald and John Jackson joked on the Prime Ticket broadcast that the running back controversy was over, since fullback Stanley Havili was the only running back in the backfield on the opening play. Well, Havili made sure that was no laughing matter, taking the first play 59 yards to the house for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
Then, Nickell Robey, who was burned on the trick play for the Cougars touchdown, picked off a Tuel pass on the second play of their second drive, returning it 24 yards for a 14-7 USC lead. The Trojans have run one offensive play, and have 14 points.
For those wondering, Lane Kiffin has sent Joe Houston out for both extra points. There have been no two-point conversions...yet.