September 11, 2004 Week 3 · Regular Season Belt defended

USC defends the belt, 49–0, at home over Colorado State.

Home · Defending Holder

USC 49

Away · Challenger

Colorado State 0

AI-Written

Recap

USC dominated Colorado State from start to finish in this lopsided affair, with the Trojans' defense forcing seven turnovers while their offense methodically moved the ball downfield. LenDale White was the star for USC, scoring three touchdowns in the first half alone, including an 11-yard rushing TD in the first quarter and a 1-yard score in the second quarter that exemplified the Trojans' control. Colorado State managed only a few bright spots, like Uldis Jaunarajs' 38-yard rush and a 26-yard completion to Johnny Walker, but the Rams' offense was crippled by turnovers and an inability to sustain drives. Matt Leinart orchestrated the USC offense efficiently with key completions to Chris McFoy and Steve Smith, while the defense recorded multiple interceptions of Justin Holland, including a 56-yard return for a touchdown by Matt Grootegoed. The belt stayed in Los Angeles as USC's defense and ball security dominated what became a complete mismatch.

LenDale White's 11-yard rushing touchdown in Q1 set the tone for USC's offensive dominance
Matt Grootegoed's 56-yard interception return for a touchdown in Q2 exemplified Colorado State's offensive breakdown
Reggie Bush's 7-yard rushing touchdown in Q2 highlighted USC's multiple scoring threats
Colorado State's seven total turnovers versus USC's disciplined two turnovers proved decisive in the lopsided result

Written by Claude from the box score and play-by-play on this page — a plain-English recap of the numbers below, not a substitute for them.

Full Box Score

Team stats

CFBD box score

USCColorado State

Total yards553281

Rushing yards32248

Passing yards231277

First downs3214

3rd down conv.7/133/14

Turnovers27

Penalties–yards0–00–0

Time of possession20:3216:08

Full team box score from CFBD’s /games/teams data. This section only appears for belt games from 2003 onward — CFBD doesn’t have team-level stats that far back.

Play By Play

Key plays

CFBD play-by-play

When	Team	Yards	Play
Q1 10:45	USC	+0 yd	Trojans fumble by Matt Leinart (USC), recovered by Jonathon Simon (CSU), returned for no gain.
Q1 12:25	USC	+20 yd	LenDale White (USC) rushed left side for 20 yards.
Q1 9:15	Colorado State	+21 yd	Justin Holland (CSU) pass across the middle complete to David Anderson (CSU) for 21 yards.
Q1 3:44	USC	+11 yd	LenDale White (USC) rushed left side for a 11 yard touchdown.
Q1 3:15	USC	+0 yd	Extra point by Ryan Killeen (USC) is good.
Q1 0:30	Colorado State	+0 yd	Rams fumble by Joel Dreessen (CSU), recovered by Uldis Jaunarajs (CSU), advanced for no gain.
Q2 15:00	Colorado State	+56 yd	Justin Holland (CSU) pass across the middle intercepted by Matt Grootegoed (USC). Returned for 56 yards.
Q1 3:08	Colorado State	+38 yd	Uldis Jaunarajs (CSU) rushed up the middle for 38 yards.
Q2 14:34	USC	+0 yd	Extra point by Ryan Killeen (USC) is good.
Q2 14:48	USC	+31 yd	Matt Leinart (USC) pass right side complete to Chris McFoy (USC) for 31 yards.
Q2 14:37	USC	+1 yd	LenDale White (USC) rushed up the middle for a 1 yard touchdown.
Q2 14:34	USC	+24 yd	Kickoff returned by Damon Morton (CSU) for 24 yards.
Q2 10:12	USC	+0 yd	Extra point by Ryan Killeen (USC) is good.
Q2 10:55	USC	+28 yd	Matt Leinart (USC) pass across the middle complete to Steve Smith (USC) for 28 yards.
Q2 10:18	USC	+3 yd	LenDale White (USC) rushed right side for a 3 yard touchdown.
Q2 4:51	USC	+0 yd	Trojans fumble by Greig Carlson (USC), recovered by Liddon Levine (CSU), returned for no gain.
Q2 4:51	Colorado State	+0 yd	Rams fumble by Joel Dreessen (CSU), recovered by Jason Leach (USC), returned for no gain.
Q2 4:00	USC	+0 yd	Trojans fumble by Matt Leinart (USC), recovered by Matt Leinart (USC), advanced for no gain.
Q2 1:07	USC	+0 yd	Extra point by Ryan Killeen (USC) is good.
Q2 1:12	USC	+7 yd	Reggie Bush (USC) rushed right side for a 7 yard touchdown.
Q2 4:00	USC	+22 yd	Matt Leinart (USC) pass across the middle complete to LenDale White (USC) for 22 yards.
Q2 2:40	USC	+23 yd	Matt Leinart (USC) rushed left side for 23 yards.
Q2 1:07	USC	+23 yd	Kickoff returned by Damon Morton (CSU) for 23 yards.
Q3 10:40	Colorado State	+0 yd	Justin Holland (CSU) pass across the middle intercepted by Matt Grootegoed (USC). Returned for no gain.
Q3 11:41	Colorado State	+26 yd	Justin Holland (CSU) pass across the middle complete to Johnny Walker (CSU) for 26 yards.
Q3 7:44	USC	+0 yd	Extra point by Ryan Killeen (USC) is good.
Q3 7:55	USC	+5 yd	Matt Leinart (USC) pass left side complete to Steve Smith (USC) for a 5 yard touchdown.
Q3 10:31	USC	+21 yd	Matt Leinart (USC) pass across the middle complete to Dwayne Jarrett (USC) for 21 yards.
Q3 7:38	Colorado State	+30 yd	Justin Holland (CSU) pass across the middle complete to Johnny Walker (CSU) for 30 yards.
Q3 7:38	Colorado State	+22 yd	Justin Holland (CSU) pass across the middle complete to David Anderson (CSU) for 22 yards.
Q3 6:50	Colorado State	+0 yd	Justin Holland (CSU) pass left side intercepted by Eric Wright (USC). Returned for no gain.
Q3 6:41	USC	+42 yd	LenDale White (USC) rushed up the middle for 42 yards.
Q3 2:51	Colorado State	+9 yd	Justin Holland (CSU) pass left side intercepted by Dallas Sartz (USC). Returned for 9 yards.
Q3 1:28	USC	+0 yd	Extra point by Ryan Killeen (USC) is good.
Q3 1:45	USC	+4 yd	Matt Leinart (USC) pass across the middle complete to Dwayne Jarrett (USC) for a 4 yard touchdown.
Q4 11:54	USC	+0 yd	Extra point by Ryan Killeen (USC) is good.
Q4 13:15	Colorado State	-20 yd	Rams fumble by Justin Holland (CSU), recovered by Manuel Wright (USC), returned for a 20 yard touchdown.
Q4 11:54	USC	+20 yd	Kickoff returned by Uldis Jaunarajs (CSU) for 20 yards.
Q4 5:08	USC	+24 yd	Desmond Reed (USC) rushed right side for 24 yards.

Scoring plays, turnovers, and gains of 20+ yards, pulled from CFBD’s play-by-play. This section only appears for belt games with play-by-play on file (2003 onward).

Box Score

Player stats

CFBD player stats

Passing

Player	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	QBR
Matt LeinartUSC	20/31	231	7.5	2	0	64.9
Justin HollandColorado State	19/35	233	6.7	0	4	6.6

Rushing

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
LenDale WhiteUSC	14	123	8.8	3	42
Reggie BushUSC	12	84	7.0	1	15
Desmond ReedUSC	8	56	7.0	0	24
Matt LeinartUSC	7	46	6.6	0	23
David KirtmanUSC	3	17	5.7	0	12
Brandon HanceUSC	1	-4	-4.0	0	0
Uldis JaunarajsColorado State	13	74	5.7	0	38
Tristan WalkerColorado State	3	12	4.0	0	8
Marcus HoustonColorado State	5	1	0.2	0	4
Justin HollandColorado State	6	-39	-6.5	0	3

Receiving

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Steve SmithUSC	8	79	9.9	1	28
Chris McFoyUSC	4	59	14.8	0	31
Dwayne JarrettUSC	3	32	10.7	1	21
David KirtmanUSC	2	30	15.0	0	19
LenDale WhiteUSC	1	22	22.0	0	22
Alex HolmesUSC	1	7	7.0	0	7
Reggie BushUSC	1	2	2.0	0	2
David AndersonColorado State	9	137	15.2	0	22
Johnny WalkerColorado State	4	66	16.5	0	31
Joel DreessenColorado State	5	23	4.6	0	8
Uldis JaunarajsColorado State	1	7	7.0	0	7

Show more stats (4 more categories)

Interceptions

Player	INT	YDS
Matt GrootegoedUSC	2	57
Dallas SartzUSC	1	8
Eric WrightUSC	1	0

Kicking

Player	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Ryan KilleenUSC	0/0	0.0	0	7/7	7

Punt Returns

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG
Reggie BushUSC	3	17	5.7	10
Greig CarlsonUSC	3	2	0.7	2
David AndersonColorado State	2	1	0.5	1
Damon MortonColorado State	1	0	0.0	0

Punting

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG
Tom MaloneUSC	4	173	43.3	47
Jeff BabcockColorado State	5	221	44.2	56
Jimmie KaylorColorado State	2	81	40.5	43

Full player stats from CFBD’s /games/players data. This section only appears for belt games from 2003 onward — CFBD doesn’t have player-level stats that far back.

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