FAST START LIFTS USC BEHIND 44-POINT 1ST HALF, TROJANS WIN EASY USC 51, STANFORD 21.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

USC no longer starts games slowly, so if you arrive late you miss the only suspenseful part of the evening. And that usually lasts about only four minutes.

Not that anyone is complaining at the Coliseum, where a loss almost seems impossible these days.

Whether the No. 1-ranked Trojans love playing at home or are simply playing easier opponents, they returned to their dominating ways Saturday night with a 51-21 blowout of Stanford in front of 90,212.

With a third straight national championship always on everyone's mind, USC gets stronger as the rest of the nation gets weaker. Texas and Alabama are the nation's only other undefeated teams after No. 3-ranked Virginia Tech and No. 5 UCLA got blown out.

Just like last week's 55-13 rout of Washington State, USC started quickly against the Cardinal and scored on all seven first-half possessions. The Trojans' 44 first-half points were the most in a half since USC scored 49 in the second half of its famous 55-24 comeback victory over Notre Dame in 1974.

``These guys love to play,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``The emotion of this team is something.''

USC (9-0, 6-0) also won its 31st straight game and surpassed the 1968-70 Texas Longhorns' mark of 30 consecutive victories. The Trojans moved into a tie for ninth place for college football's longest winning streak.

The Trojans also won their 25th straight game at the Coliseum. Ironically, Stanford (4-4, 3-3) was the last team to defeat USC at home in 2001.

``This is how we play when we get here,'' Carroll said. ``That's why it was such a big deal to come home from all those road games. Most of these guys can't even remember losing here.''

The only real surprise was Carroll's reversal in playing freshman linebacker Rey Maualuga, who got arrested Tuesday for misdemeanor assault. Maualuga, who was not expected to play, entered the game in the third quarter.

``Whenever they needed me, I came out and played,'' Maualuga said. ``I'm never surprised when I play. The coaches told me to suit up and see what happens.''

Carroll defended the decision.

``I'm not worried about it, people can have opinions and think anything they want,'' he said. ``I can't wait and see what everyone else will say. There's no question he stepped out of character so we have to help him.''

There was a unique aspect for USC because the defense created almost as many scoring opportunities as the offense, even though two starting linebackers (Oscar Lua, Keith Rivers) were injured.

Lua has a sprained knee but it could be torn ligaments and he will undergo tests Monday. Carroll was not optimistic.

``That's a big loss for us,'' Carroll said.

But that didn't stop USC against the Cardinal. Defensive end Frostee Rucker and linebacker Thomas Williams intercepted passes while defensive end Lawrence Jackson recovered a fumble that set up touchdowns and helped bury the Cardinal before some fans took their seats.

USC started the rout on the first series of the game, as tailback LenDale White scored on a 2-yard run just three minutes in to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead. Fifty-four seconds later, tailback Reggie Bush broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 advantage.

The big play occurred when Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards threw a lateral that was recovered by Jackson at the Cardinal 47-yard line.

On USC's next series, Leinart threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to White for a 21-0 lead with 6:04 left.

The defense set up that score, too. Edwards' pass was tipped by freshman Brian Cushing and intercepted by Williams. Cushing saw his first extended action in his career and was in on several plays early.

``It's never easy,'' Cushing said. ``No matter what the score is, we have to work hard in these games.''

Mario Danelo added a 21-yard field goal and by the end of the first quarter, it was game over as USC held a 24-0 lead.

Leinart ended the quarter completing nine of 12 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown. Bush gained 92 yards in seven carries. Leinart completed 20 of 25 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns in the half.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) USC's Reggie Bush scores on a 42-yard run in the first quarter.

(2) USC's Matt Leinart throws a 1-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Miller (Westlake Village) in the second quarter.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer