— ADVERTISEMENT —
|
||||||||||||||||||
WARRIOR FOOTBALL
USC puts the hurt
|
![]()
|
"If it's in his power, there's no doubt he's going to play," Broadway said.
Ferguson hurt his knee returning the game's opening kickoff. He stayed in the game and caught a 6-yard pass on UH's first offensive series. But he knew his knee wasn't right.
The disappointment cut deep for the graduate of Los Angeles' Fairfax High School, who had relished the chance to play against the Trojans.
"I've been looking forward to this opportunity," Ferguson said as he left the field on crutches. "Every time I come close to actually becoming the football player I dream to be, it's taken away from me."
"It breaks my heart," UH receivers coach Ron Lee said. "I'm just hoping it's a strain and we'll see what happens. I'm hoping for the best."
Patton had arthroscopic surgery on Aug. 22 and wasn't optimistic about his chances of playing as late as Thursday. But he was in the lineup when the Warrior defense finally took the field with 1:24 left in the first quarter.
"I just warmed up and I felt good, and Coach said if I'm OK I can play," Patton said.
He led UH with six tackles and got UH's first interception of the season, making a leaping grab in front of USC's Dwayne Jarrett in the end zone in the third quarter. It was only the 16th interception Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart has thrown in his career.
"The reason I got that pick was because the defense put pressure on the quarterback," said Patton, who said he will play against Michigan State. "Every big play takes more than one guy."
On the flip side, Patton also gave up a long touchdown pass when Leinart recognized that UH was blitzing and Patton was locked up one-on-one against receiver Steve Smith.
"He read our defense. I should have opened up earlier; I feel like I let my team down," Patton said. "But it's fine. ... It's one snap and clear. I don't remember those plays. It's over."
Left: USC's Reggie Bush ran in a 41-yard TD in the second quarter.
USC's Justin Wyatt slammed Hawaii's Ross Dickerson after Dickerson pulled in a first-half catch.
Hawaii's Ian Sample dove beyond the reach of USC's Darnell Bing, left, and Andre Woodert in the first half of yesterday's season opener at Aloha Stadium.
Hawaii's Michael Washington tried to haul in a pass while being defended by USC's Andre Woodert in the second half of yesterday's game at Aloha Stadium.
USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett broke away from Hawaii's Kila Kamakawiwo'ole yesterday. Jarrett caught three touchdown passes for the Trojans.
USC receiver Steve Smith tried to reel in a Matt Leinart pass under defensive pressure from UH's Kenny Patton.