From Early On, Trojans Take Cavs by Storm

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Aug. 30 -- On a balmy day with clear blue skies, the video board at Scott Stadium offered a cautionary message near the beginning of Virginia's season opener: severe weather in the area; reentry permitted with ticket.

Though most of the record 64,947 fans in attendance disregarded the warning (clear blue skies, remember?), the visiting Southern California Trojans took heed, marching downfield repeatedly in the first quarter with efficiency unmatched by their counterparts. USC needed just 7 minutes 14 seconds of offensive possession to net three touchdowns.

After concluding its third drive with its third touchdown, the Trojans unofficially smothered any lingering hope the Cavaliers had of becoming the third team to upset a top 25 opponent on the first Saturday of the college football season. USC also erased any concern that inclement weather might interrupt an opportunity to showcase its copious talent.

During Friday's walk-through, USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian set three objectives for his unit: Get quarterback Mark Sanchez into a rhythm with high-percentage passes, incorporate dynamic tailback Joe McKnight into the offense in a variety of roles and firmly establish a running game.

As for how well his offense executed the game plan, Sarkisian said, "It all kind of went according to plan."

Sanchez dissected the Cavaliers defense early with passes short and long, on quick drops and play action. He rendered Virginia's defenders helpless, a group of Whack-A-Mole contestants repeatedly slamming the wrong hole.

One of his main targets was McKnight, who lined up wide right on USC's first play from scrimmage and turned a completion into an eight-yard gain. Sanchez, who dislocated his left knee early in training camp, completed 26 of 35 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns.

"We had a great game plan," Sanchez said. "We knew it would have to be a conservative [passing] game if they were going to zone us like they did."

After an eight-play, 56-yard opening drive that took 3:05 and concluded with a two-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Stafon Johnson, USC operated its second possession with the precision it had displayed in the first.

McKnight proved to be the most dangerous of USC's talents, in threat if not always in production.

"I can be a good decoy to get other people open," said the sophomore, who carried the ball six times for 60 yards and caught four passes for 24 more. "The score tells it all. That's enough for me."

USC conducted a five-play drive that lasted 2:04 and ended with a 10-yard McKnight touchdown reception that put Virginia in an early 14-0 hole. That deficit quickly grew to 21 after the Trojans' succeeding drive -- four plays, 42 yards, 2:05 -- ended on a 33-yard run by sophomore tailback C.J. Gable.

Virginia's offense totaled 187 yards on the day. The Trojans had compiled 145 after their first three possessions.

"We wanted to show everybody we came ready to play," Gable said. "We seen our running game was getting to them, so we just wanted to keep taking the ball down the field, keep attacking them."