Frosh Wide Receiver Steve Smith Catches Two TD Passes To Highlight First Scrimmage

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Frosh Wide Receiver Steve Smith Catches Two TD Passes To Highlight First Scrimmage
USC quarterbacks 29-of-35 passes and offense had no turnovers in 80 play intrasquad game.

Pete Carroll was pleased with his offense's performance in the Trojans' first pre-season scrimmage of 2003.

Aug. 12, 2003

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USC freshman wide receiver Steve Smith caught 2 touchdown passes to highlight an 80-play intrasquad scrimmage on Howard Jones Field on Tuesday (Aug. 12) as the Trojans completed their first week of pre-season practice.

Smith's scoring grabs-an 8-yarder from Billy Hart and a 9-yarder from walk-on frosh Michael McDonald-came at the end of the scrimmage.

Earlier, fullback Brandon Hancock scored on an 18-yard pass from Matt Leinart, just 2 plays after he rumbled 57 yards with a Leinart toss.

Tailbacks Hershel Dennis (1 yard) and freshman LenDale White (4 yards) each ran for a touchdown.

Trojan quarterbacks completed 29-of-35 passes overall and had none intercepted, with Leinart connecting on 11-of-15 for 190 yards (he hit his first 8 passes). Matt Cassel was 6-of-6 for 53 yards, Brandon Hance was 6-of-8 for 28 yards, Hart was 4-of-4 for 42 yards and McDonald was 2-of-2 for 22 yards.

Smith had 5 receptions for 57 yards, while Hancock added 4 catches for 97 yards and tight end Gregg Guenther had 3 for 31 yards.

Dennis ran for 14 yards on 5 carries, while White had 10 yards on 7 tries to complement fellow freshmen Reggie Bush (5 for 28 yards) and Chauncey Washington (5 for 31 yards).

USC's defense posted 6 sacks and 13 tackles for losses. The top tackler was freshman linebacker Thomas Williams with 8.

"I loved that the offense got through the scrimmage without a turnover," said USC head coach Pete Carroll. "I thought that Matt Leinart did well and all the quarterbacks did well. As for the young running backs, they're just special; they do a lot of great things."

No. 8-ranked USC opens its 2003 season on Aug. 30 at Auburn. The Trojans, No. 4 in the final 2002 AP poll after going 11-2 and sharing the Pac-10 championship, are riding an 8-game winning streak, including season-ending victories over UCLA, Notre Dame and then Iowa in the Orange Bowl.