Beavers cut down No. 1 Trojans

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- It had been 41 years since Oregon State knocked off a No. 1 team.

Freshman Jacquizz Rodgers helped the Beavers pull off another stunner -- and Southern California was the victim again.

Rodgers ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns, and Oregon State built a 21-point first-half lead before capitalizing on a late turnover and upsetting the Trojans 27-21 on Thursday night.

Beavers fans, clad in orange, rushed the field when the clock ran out after the 251/2-point underdogs shook up college football with a victory over the team that was expected to roll right through its conference straight to the national championship game.

"I think we made a statement, like we can come out and beat anybody on any given day. It's not always the best team that wins on a day. It's who plays hard," Rodgers said.

The Beavers (2-2, 1-1 Pacific-10) also upset USC at Reser Stadium in 2006, when the Trojans were ranked third. Oregon State's only other victory over a No. 1 team came in 1967, when it beat the O.J. Simpson-led Trojans, 3-0.

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez's pass was intercepted by safety Greg Laybourn on the 30 with less than three minutes to play. Laybourn ran the ball back 28 yards, and Rodgers' 2-yard TD run made it 27-14.

Fans carried Laybourn on their shoulders after the game.

Sanchez hit Patrick Turner with a 14-yard scoring pass with 1:19 left, but time ran out on the Trojans (2-1, 0-1).

"I'm beside myself," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "They didn't hide what they were doing; they just did it. We couldn't stop it. We couldn't tackle."

Rodgers' rushing yards were the most by a Trojans opponent since Vince Young ran for 200 for Texas in the BCS national championship game in 2006.

Rodgers' brother James had six catches for 36 yards and two scores for Oregon State. Lyle Moevao completed 18 of 26 passes for 167 yards and two scores.

"They came out and competed," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said of his team. "We were respectful but not in awe."

USC tailback Joe McKnight rushed for just 10 yards against the Beavers, after gaining 105 yards in the Trojans' 35-3 victory over Ohio State.

Sanchez completed 18 of 29 passes for 227 yards and three scores, with the one crucial interception.

"Not our sharpest tonight -- everybody, every position. There's no need to point fingers," Sanchez said. "I'm as guilty as anyone else. I threw an interception -- costly late in the game."

McKnight took the loss upon himself.

"I didn't make the plays. Fumbled the ball. Dropped a pass," he said. "You can't blame anybody else but me."

The game opened with drama, as USC safety Taylor Mays was called for a personal foul on James Rodgers on an 8-yard touchdown reception.

Carroll asked that the score be reviewed, because it did not look as if the ball had crossed the goal line. The touchdown stood, giving the Beavers a 7-0 lead.

The Beavers more than held their own through the first half, with the Trojans appearing confused about how to handle Jacquizz Rodgers, who is just 5 feet 7 inches and 185 pounds. He somehow pushed through USC's defensive line for a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0.

His big brother saw the end zone again before halftime. Moevao's pass was nearly intercepted by USC cornerback Kevin Thomas, but the ball was tipped into James Rodgers' hands to make it 21-0.

USC answered on its first series of the second half with Sanchez's 26-yard scoring pass to Ronald Johnson.

Sanchez found wide-open receiver Damien Williams, who sprinted down the sideline -- and narrowly avoided Laybourn's efforts to push him out of bounds -- to narrow it to 21-14 with 2:56 left in the third quarter.

The Beavers had a chance to add to the lead midway through the fourth quarter, but Sean Sehnem's 41-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.