Trojans Take Aim at Another Streak

PULLMAN, Wash. —  A week after becoming the first school to shut out Washington since 1981, USC has a chance to end another long streak when the top-ranked Trojans play Washington State today at Martin Stadium.

USC defeated Washington, 38-0, to end the Huskies’ streak of 271 games without being shut out.

Washington State has scored in 234 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak among Division I schools.

The Cougars have scored in 224 consecutive Pacific 10 Conference games, the longest active streak of any team in the league.

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USC cornerback Eric Wright will see a familiar face across the line of scrimmage when he lines up against Washington State receiver Jason Hill, a former youth football teammate.

“He’s one of my best friends; I’ve known him since I was 8 years old,” said Wright, a redshirt freshman who attended Riordan High in San Francisco.

Hill, a sophomore, has caught nine touchdown passes, two shy of Washington State’s season record set by Kevin McKenzie and Chris Jackson in 1997 and tied by Devard Darling in 2002.

“In high school, in the first game I ever played cornerback, I had to match up with him and he only had one catch for eight yards,” Wright said.

The two friends spoke by phone this week. “We’ve been yapping. ... We’re ready,” Wright said.

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USC will play before another sellout crowd today, but the number of fans will pale compared to what the Trojans experienced during their recent three-game homestand.

USC drew crowds of more than 90,000 against California and Arizona State and more than 72,000 against Washington.

Martin Stadium holds 37,600.

“It’s a nice little stadium and a hostile environment,” USC quarterback Matt Leinart said. “The fans are right on top of you, almost like a high school game with the field being so close.”

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USC is the first No. 1-ranked team to play at Martin Stadium. ... The Trojans have gone 27-1 since the Cougars defeated them, 30-27, in overtime at Martin Stadium on Oct. 5, 2002. ... Washington State’s Michael Bumpus, a freshman from Culver City High, has returned 27 punts for 270 yards and has caught 15 passes for 135 yards.