PASADENA, California -- USC's Dwayne Jarrett was in a
taunting mood, and Michigan could do nothing about it.
Jarrett caught 11 passes for a career-high 205 yards and two
touchdowns as No. 8 USC erupted in the second half for a 32-18
victory over No. 3 Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
John David Booty threw for 391 yards and four scores for the
Trojans (11-2), who also had six sacks as they manhandled the
Wolverines and staked an early claim to the top preseason
ranking for the 2007 season.
"We have this feeling about who we are and what we're all about
as we start next year's preparation," USC coach Pete Carroll
said. "We've taken a great step for the future, and it's a very
powerful statement for our program."
That squad may not include Jarrett, a junior who was named MVP
looked ready for the NFL in every way. He beat both single and
double coverage on a variety of routes, showed a flair for the
dramatic and displayed the swagger many pro receivers have.
"Their secondary kind of had a little bit of a weakness,"
Jarrett said. "They're pretty much a solid defense, but at the
same time when we opened up, we exploited them when we started
throwing the ball vertical."
"I said to him, 'One more year, man. We've got to do this again
next year,'" Booty said. "He's got to do what's best for him and
his family, but he definitely knows that I want him back here.
After a performance like this tonight, it's going to be tough to
keep him out of the league."
The Trojans were nursing a 19-11 lead with just under 12 minutes
to play and faced a 3rd-and-10 at their 38-yard line. From the
left slot, Jarrett got past a pair of defenders, hauled in
Booty's pass, broke a tackle and outraced safety Willis
Barringer to the end zone.
As he approached the end zone, Jarrett wagged his index finger
at Barringer, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
On USC's next possession, Jarrett leaped to snare a 29-yard toss
from Booty. After being taken down, he flipped the ball into
Barringer's lap.
Booty followed with a 23-yard pass to tight end Fred Davis - who
made a one-handed catch with a defender draped over him - and a
seven-yard strike to Steve Smith that sealed it at 32-11 with
6:52 remaining.
In what some dubbed "The Disappointment Bowl," USC bounced back
from a disappointing loss in its regular-season finale much
better than Michigan (11-2).
The Trojans were denied a chance to play for the title for the
fourth straight year with a stunning 13-9 loss to rival UCLA.
The Wolverines won their first 11 games but suffered a 42-39
loss at top-ranked Ohio State before being overtaken for the
title game berth by Florida.
"Our guys know that wasn't us," Carroll said. "That was the single
game out of the last 65 that stood out because it was so different
and unusual. So we put it behind us. This was an opportunity to
kickstart what's going on for this football team for the future.
I think we captured the night. We captured the opportunity."
Booty completed 27-of-45 passes and Smith had 108 receiving
yards for the Trojans, who have won six of their last seven
meetings with the Wolverines, including the 2004 Rose Bowl.
Chad Henne was 26-of-41 for 309 yards, two touchdowns and two
interceptions for the Wolverines, who could not get anything
going on the ground. Star tailback Mike Hart was limited to 47
yards on 17 carries before suffering a shoulder injury.
Michigan lost its fourth straight bowl game and ended the season
on a two-game losing streak for the third straight year.
"I think it mattered a lot," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.
"They're tremendously disappointed because they wanted to win.
Anybody that thinks this game doesn't mean a lot doesn't know
much about this game."
It was a pretty quiet first half for all except Henne, who was
hammered for five sacks. Early on, Jarrett became the school's
all-time leader in catches, surpassing the mark of 204 by Keary
Colbert.
"I pretty much knew where the blitzes were coming from, we just
didn't get it done," Henne said. "Their speed overcame ours."
"I was just surprised how fast our defense looked out there,"
USC linebacker Dallas Sartz said. "We really showed how fast
and quick our defense is, coming off those blitzes and rushing
around the ends and tight end."
Early in the second half, an interception by defensive lineman
Lawrence Jackson set up USC at the Michigan 38. Booty completed
four straight passes, the last a two-yarder to Chris McFoy that
gave the Trojans the lead for good at 10-3.
USC forced a punt, and Booty found Smith for 35 yards before
hooking up on a 22-yard toss to Jarrett, who pranced into the
end zone to make it 16-3 with 5:17 left in the third quarter.
On Michigan's next possession, Jackson struck again, recovering
a fumble at the Wolverines 32 that was forced by Brian Cushing's
sack of Henne. That set up Mario Danelo's 26-yard field goal.
Henne drove the Wolverines 80 yards and capped it with an
11-yard TD pass to Adrian Arrington. Hart's conversion run made
it a one-score game with more than 13 minutes to go, but
Jarrett took center stage.