October 8, 2005 Week 6 · Regular Season Belt defended

USC defends the belt, 42–21, at home over Arizona.

Home · Defending Holder

USC 42

Away · Challenger

Arizona 21

AI-Written

Recap

USC's dominant offensive performance secured the belt with a convincing 42-21 victory over Arizona. The Trojans struck first when LenDale White punched in a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter, but Arizona answered quickly with a Richard Kovalcheck-to-Brad Wood 4-yard touchdown pass. USC's Matt Leinart orchestrated an impressive drive in the second quarter, connecting with Dwayne Jarrett for a 23-yard touchdown to extend the lead. The third quarter belonged entirely to USC, as LenDale White scored twice more on short-yardage rushing attempts, while the Trojans' passing attack featured a devastating 57-yard completion to Steve Smith that set up another score. Though Arizona managed two more touchdowns late to make the final score respectable, USC's superior field position, time of possession advantage (22:20 to 14:20), and nearly perfect third-down conversion rate (10-14) proved insurmountable.

LenDale White's first 1-yard TD run in Q1 - established USC's ground dominance early
Matt Leinart to Dwayne Jarrett 23-yard TD in Q2 - extended USC lead after Arizona's quick response
LenDale White's two rushing TDs in Q3 (2-yard and 1-yard) - put the game firmly out of reach
57-yard Leinart-to-Steve Smith completion in Q3 - exemplified USC's offensive firepower and set up another touchdown

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

USCArizona

Total yards724245

Rushing yards33764

Passing yards391183

First downs3912

3rd down conv.10/141/9

Turnovers21

Penalties–yards0–00–0

Time of possession22:2014:20

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 13:23	USC	+34 yd	Matt Leinart pass complete to Steve Smith for 34 yards to the USC 38 for a 1ST down.
Q1 12:27	USC	+21 yd	Matt Leinart pass complete to Patrick Turner for 21 yards to the Ariz 31 for a 1ST down.
Q1 9:12	USC	+1 yd	LenDale White rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
Q1 9:12	USC	+0 yd	Mario Danelo extra point GOOD.
Q1 9:05	USC	+36 yd	Troy Van Blarco kickoff for 65 yards returned by Syndric Steptoe for 36 yards to the Ariz 36.
Q1 0:07	Arizona	+4 yd	Richard Kovalcheck pass complete to Brad Wood for 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Q1 0:07	Arizona	+0 yd	Nicholas Folk extra point GOOD.
Q1 0:55	Arizona	+38 yd	Richard Kovalcheck pass complete to Michael Thomas for 38 yards to the USC 5 for a 1ST down.
Q2 14:15	USC	+33 yd	Matt Leinart pass intercepted by Wilrey Fontenot at the Ariz 18, returned for 33 yards to the USC 49.
Q2 1:17	USC	+23 yd	Matt Leinart pass complete to Dwayne Jarrett for 23 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Q2 1:17	USC	+0 yd	Mario Danelo extra point GOOD.
Q3 14:47	USC	+39 yd	LenDale White rush for 39 yards to the Ariz 45 for a 1ST down.
Q3 11:51	USC	+2 yd	LenDale White rush for 2 yards for a TOUCHDOWN, Arizona penalty offside on BJ Vickers declined.
Q3 11:51	USC	+0 yd	Mario Danelo extra point GOOD.
Q3 7:34	Arizona	+42 yd	Richard Kovalcheck pass complete to Michael Thomas for 42 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Q3 7:34	Arizona	+0 yd	Nicholas Folk extra point GOOD.
Q3 5:50	USC	+57 yd	Matt Leinart pass complete to Steve Smith for 57 yards to the Ariz 11 for a 1ST down.
Q3 4:23	USC	+1 yd	LenDale White rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
Q3 4:09	USC	+77 yd	Troy Van Blarco kickoff for 64 yards returned by Syndric Steptoe for 77 yards to the USC 22.
Q3 4:23	USC	+0 yd	Mario Danelo extra point GOOD.
Q3 1:47	Arizona	+1 yd	Richard Kovalcheck pass complete to Gilbert Harris for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
Q3 1:47	Arizona	+0 yd	Nicholas Folk extra point GOOD.
Q4 12:48	USC	+29 yd	Matt Leinart pass complete to Dwayne Jarrett for 29 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Q4 12:48	USC	+0 yd	Mario Danelo extra point GOOD.
Q4 8:22	USC	+65 yd	Reggie Bush rush for 65 yards to the Ariz 6 for a 1ST down.
Q4 7:59	USC	+6 yd	LenDale White rush for 6 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Q4 7:59	USC	+0 yd	Mario Danelo extra point GOOD.

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	26/40	360	9.0	2	1	83.7
John David BootyUSC	3/3	27	9.0	0	0	97.0
Dwayne JarrettUSC	0/1	0	0.0	0	0	3.2

Rushing

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
LenDale WhiteUSC	24	179	7.5	4	38
Reggie BushUSC	14	110	7.9	0	65
Desmond ReedUSC	6	27	4.5	0	9
Michael ColemanUSC	4	16	4.0	0	8
John GriffinUSC	1	4	4.0	0	4
Matt LeinartUSC	3	1	0.3	0	4
Gilbert HarrisArizona	8	26	3.3	0	9
Chris HenryArizona	1	1	1.0	0	1

Receiving

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Steve SmithUSC	7	135	19.3	0	56
Dwayne JarrettUSC	9	116	12.9	2	29
Chris McFoyUSC	3	27	9.0	0	9
Fred DavisUSC	2	23	11.5	0	17
Patrick TurnerUSC	1	20	20.0	0	20
Dominique ByrdUSC	1	16	16.0	0	16
Reggie BushUSC	2	16	8.0	0	10
LenDale WhiteUSC	1	14	14.0	0	14
Mike BrittinghamUSC	1	9	9.0	0	9
Brandon HancockUSC	1	6	6.0	0	6
David KirtmanUSC	1	5	5.0	0	5
Mike ThomasArizona	4	88	22.0	1	42
Brad WoodArizona	4	52	13.0	1	19
Anthony JohnsonArizona	2	16	8.0	0	10
Gilbert HarrisArizona	4	15	3.8	1	7
Syndric SteptoeArizona	1	9	9.0	0	9

Show more stats (4 more categories)

Interceptions

Player	INT	YDS	TD
Ryan TingUSC	1	0	0
Wilrey FontenotArizona	1	34	0

Kicking

Player	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Mario DaneloUSC	0/0	0.0	0	6/6	6

Punt Returns

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Reggie BushUSC	2	0	0.0	0	0
Syndric SteptoeArizona	1	13	13.0	13	0

Punting

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	In 20	LONG
Tom MaloneUSC	2	87	43.5	0	0	46
Danny BaugherArizona	6	276	46.0	0	0	54

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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