TROJANS GET A SCARE WHITE SCORES GO-AHEAD TD WITH 6:22 LEFT USC 50, FRESNO STATE 42.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

When you are undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation, it's almost impossible to be accused of hubris.

But USC's stubborn refusal to rely more on the running game nearly caught up with it Saturday night, as the Trojans led 41-28 through three quarters in front of a sellout crowd of 90,007 at the Coliseum.

Despite a career-high night for tailback Reggie Bush (258 yards through three quarters, a school-record 396 all-purpose yards), the Trojans almost reluctantly went to the run after the game plan called for nine straight pass plays to start the game.

Quarterback Matt Leinart experienced mixed results throughout the night and the Trojans were locked in a dramatic contest that saw their perfect 10-0 record and national-championship hopes hang in the balance.

Only USC safety Scott Ware's interception at the goal-line saved Fresno State from taking the lead in the waning moments of the third quarter, as the No. 16-ranked Bulldogs failed to crack after blowing a 21-13 halftime lead.

USC led 34-21, but Fresno State came back to cut the lead to 34-28 before Ware intercepted Paul Pinegar's pass for a potential go-ahead touchdown.

Bush responded, however, with a 50-yard run to give USC a 41-28 lead with 1:15 remaining in the quarter. He gained 143 yards in the third-quarter alone.

Fresno State exposed a USC defense that frequently looked soft this season, but rarely dealt with a quarterback as poised as the Bulldogs' Pinegar. The senior calmly completed 17 of his first 22 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns as the Fresno State its halftime advantage.

Even Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn didn't exploit the Trojans' defense this easily and Pinegar, not Leinart, seemed to be the Heisman Trophy candidate.

Leinart completed 14 of 22 passes but for just 104 yards and no touchdowns in the first half.

It was almost opposite of most USC games this season, as the Trojans struggled to pass consistently while Pinegar dissected the secondary, particularly sophomore cornerback Josh Pinkard.

USC's offense appeared desperate, forced to settle for two field goals, including Mario Danelo's 31-yarder with two seconds left to cut the lead to 21-13.

USC trailed at halftime for only the fourth time this season. The other games were Notre Dame, Oregon and Arizona State. The Sun Devils held the largest lead (21-3).

It was the first time USC trailed at halftime at the Coliseum since 2002, when California led 21-17.

Things appeared ominous from the start for USC.

Perhaps as a sign of respect for Fresno State, USC coach Pete Carroll uncharacteristically punted from the Bulldogs' 38-yard line on fourth-and-7. Usually, Carroll went for it in those situations.

The reason why became immediately apparent as Pinegar embarrassed the Trojans' secondary, completing five of six passes and driving the Bulldogs 81 yards for a touchdown.

From the 13-yard line, Pinegar threw a short pass to tight end Devyn McDonald, who fumbled after being hit by Ware, but the ball bounced straight to wide receiver Jermaine Jamison at the 1, who scored a touchdown with 9:45 remaining.

USC, which inexplicably threw eight straight passes on its opening drive before punting, went back to the run following Fresno State's touchdown, and tailback Reggie Bush responded with a 65-yard run on a sweep down the sideline that reached the 5-yard line.

Tailback LenDale White scored on the next play to tie the score at 7-7 with 7:25 left in the first quarter.

Leinart completed just six of 12 passes for 33 yards in the first quarter while Pinegar went eight for 11 for 105 yards and one touchdown.

If punting on fourth down was unusual, another strange play occurred for the Trojans on their next possession. With a third-and-1 situation from the USC 21, White lost two yards and the Trojans punted.

But Fresno State coach Pat Hill demonstrated his gambling nature, when the Bulldogs faked a punt on the ensuing possession and gained 2 yards for a first down. That kept the drive alive and Pinegar again diced the defense with four straight completions for 43 yards.

Roshon Vercher scored on a 1-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead with 12:07 left in the half.

Although USC ran successfully, the Trojans stubbornly passed on the next series, with Leinart attempting to pass on six of nine plays.

USC reached the Fresno State 7-yard line, but Leinart got sacked on third down and Danelo kicked a 25-yard field goal to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 14-10.

Questionable decisions carried into the second half. Even after Leinart scored on a 1-yard run to cut the lead to 21-19 early in the third quarter, USC kicked an extra point instead of going for a two-point conversion.

USC's special teams remained atrocious, allowing 133 yards on five returns through three quarters.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) USC's Reggie Bush had a record-setting night, with 396 total yards of offense through three quarters.

(2) USC's LenDale White scores on a 5-yard run in the first quarter of Saturday's game against Fresno State.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer