McKnight steps out of the shadow
Reggie Bush never had a bowl performance like this one.
No, the Heisman Trophy winner never ran for 125 yards and a touchdown, caught another 6 passes for 45 yards or imposed his will on the BCS quite like freshman tailback Joe McKnight.
Playing on the biggest of stages for the first time, the phenomenon from River Ridge, La. finished with 206 all-purpose yards and provided the offensive spark USC had been missing for most of the year.
That was never more evident than in the third quarter, when the Trojans put away the Fighting Illini for good.
Driving and threatening to pull within four points, linebacker Kaluka Maiava knocked a fumble into the end zone and linebacker Brian Cushing fell on it for a touchback.
Four plays later, McKnight demonstrated keen awareness when he snatched up quarterback John David Booty's toss behind the line of scrimmage as everyone else mistook it for an incomplete pass.
"I knew it was a backwards lateral," Joe McKnight said. "I thought everybody was going to be around me but nobody was there, so I took it up field."
Sixty-five yards later, Illinois sophomore cornerback Vontae Davis finally ran him down. The Trojans cashed in for a 28-10 advantage and never looked back.
McKnight struggled in the early going with comparisons to Reggie Bush, fumbles and a tendency to get caught in the backfield.
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian admitted at several points during the season that McKnight was buried by attempts to do too much too soon.
A simplified approach led to a breakthrough against Arizona, when his 45-yard punt return and 59-yard run keyed a USC victory one week after losing to Stanford.
"It kind of relaxed me. I got used to making plays," McKnight said.
Settled in at tailback, Sarkisian gave him the role envisioned early on.
"We just wanted to get him involved early so he was in the flow of the ball game," he said. "I'm upset we left a couple things for him on the call sheet as a wide receiver."
But McKnight downplayed his role in the record 633 yards and 49 points, saying, "This is the seniors' game."
Chauncey Washington, Desmond Reed and Hershel Dennis all scored touchdowns in their final game after enduring tumultuous careers beset by hardship.
"It meant a lot for them to leave me in there and let me run it in. They blessed me," Dennis said. "
Reed looked like a rock star on the aptly-named gadget play, flipping in for the score as the end recipient of a ball thrown by sophomore wide receiver Garrett Green.
Washington set the tempo, getting past All-American linebacker J Leman on a little pass into the flat for a 7-0 advantage. He added a 3-yard touchdown run, finishing with 87 total yards.
"When they get the momentum, it's like they got an S on their chest," Illinois safety Kevin Mitchell said.
In the end, it was a passing of the torch from those three to Joe McKnight.
"I'm glad we don't have to play against him. Everybody knows Joe is special," guard Jeff Byers said.
Mitchell went one step further.
"He stepped out of (Reggie Bush's) shadow. He can be the best."
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