Trojans Looking To Put Shocking Loss Behind Them

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Sedrick Ellis and his Southern California teammates want to put one of the most surprising upsets in college football history behind them. <br/><br/>The best way is to perform well Saturday

Friday, October 12th 2007, 9:04 pm

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Sedrick Ellis and his Southern California teammates want to put one of the most surprising upsets in college football history behind them.

The best way is to perform well Saturday against Arizona, and that might not be easy if the Trojans don't do a much better job in the turnover and penalty departments.

``The main focus on my mind is to get our offense the ball more,'' said Ellis, the nose tackle who had six tackles, including three sacks, in USC's 24-23 loss to 41-point underdog Stanford last weekend. The Trojans had their 35-game home winning streak snapped by the Cardinal and dropped from second to 10th in the AP Top 25.

``As a defense, I think we've been playing really well, but we've got to get more turnovers,'' Ellis said. ``Sometimes in football, things don't go your way. We've had a heightened intensity this week. We'll just come out and play our game.''

USC (4-1, 2-1 Pac-10) has usually been on the plus side of the turnover ratio under coach Pete Carroll, but the Trojans have committed 14 this season including five against Stanford while forcing only seven.

In addition, they've averaged nine penalties and 85.8 yards per game, putting them at the bottom of the Pac-10.

``It's so obvious and so clear that we have to get rid of this turnover situation that we have been so good at for so long,'' Carroll said. ``Without that changing, nothing changes. That's football, and it always has been.''

USC has another issue _ injuries. Quarterback Mark Sanchez will make his first career start against Arizona, and he'll play behind a makeshift offensive line that was often ineffective against Stanford.

In addition, leading rusher Stafon Johnson might have to sit out his second straight game because of a sprained left foot.

Sanchez, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound redshirt sophomore, hasn't started a game since 2004, when he was a senior at nearby Mission Viejo High. He's replacing John David Booty, who broke the middle finger on his throwing hand against Stanford. Booty will be available for emergency duty if needed.

``We'll be excited to see him get this opportunity,'' Carroll said. ``He had a very, very good week and he's been waiting for this for years.''

Sanchez has completed 2 of 3 passes for 23 yards with one interception this season and is 5-of-10 for 86 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions in his career.

``I'm excited about the opportunity,'' he said. ``If anybody's ready for this, I think I am. I need to be conservative and play well and play smart.''

Johnson said he'll be a game-time decision.

``It's up to the coaches,'' he said. ``I feel about as good as I'm going to be. I know it's not 100 percent. It's dealing with the pain, playing through it, being a warrior. I could play. It's not up to me.''

USC beat Arizona 20-3 last season _ its fifth straight victory over the Wildcats. The Trojans were listed as 21-point favorites this week.

``They came into this season with very high hopes and expectations of having a great year,'' Carroll said. ``When you look at the film, you can see why. Willie Tuitama is a terrific quarterback. Their receivers are good. Defensively, this is the best front we've played.''

The Wildcats (2-4, 1-2) are coming off a 31-16 loss at Oregon State a week after routing Washington State 48-20.

``Offensively, we're closer,'' Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. ``Our execution against good people has not been what it needs to be. We're getting better. Defensively, we've been disappointed in our overall play _ just a little off all season.''

Tuitama has passed for 1,822 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions, but threw for only 222 yards against Oregon State and was sacked eight times.

``Willie's gotten better,'' Stoops said. ``He's getting better every time he goes on the field, but probably took a step back Saturday. We need to do a better job keeping ourselves in manageable situations.''

Stoops said he expects the Trojans to be hungry and mad.

``We've got to be ready to play, something we didn't do last week,'' he said. ``The turnovers have led to their demise, like most teams. That's really a concern of ours _ their mind-set. We know they're an excellent football team.

``Anyone can get anybody on any given day. That's been proven through the course of this season.''