FIVE KEY MOMENTS

1 USC receiver Windrell Hayes, back after sitting out two games because of a bad ankle sprain, goes in motion on a play from the Arizona 18-yard line and heads for the right corner of the end zone, where he leaps high to snare Mike Van Raaphorst’s pass for a touchdown with defensive back Greg Payne Jr. all over him. The touchdown and extra point give USC a 17-10 third-quarter lead, and Hayes, despite limping off after the play, returned to the game.

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2 Arizona receiver Dennis Northcutt, the onetime Trojan wannabe from Dorsey High, makes a one-handed grab in the end zone--clutching the ball against his helmet with his right hand--and Arizona ties the score, 17-17, in the third quarter. With the 17-yard catch, Northcutt sets Arizona’s career receiving record, breaking “T” Bell’s record of 2,509 yards.

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3 Keith Smith, for so long part of Arizona’s two-headed quarterback system, started for Ortege Jenkins and raced 57 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. He finished with 243 yards passing--and his 79 net yards rushing were impressive enough until you realized he would have had 106 if not for sack yardage.

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4 The big play that wasn’t. After a 66-yard punt by USC’s Mike MacGillivray, Northcutt lets the ball bounce and loses the handle on the ball on Troy Polamalu’s hit, and USC nearly recovers for a touchdown--or at least great field position. Instead, Arizona takes over at its own one-yard line, leading 7-0.

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5 Another defensive touchdown for USC, on a 44-yard fumble return by Antuan Simmons early in the second quarter. USC’s offense has gotten a boost from the defense, which has contributed six touchdowns. The Trojans also had a special teams touchdown by R. Jay Soward earlier this season, meaning that seven of USC’s 23 touchdowns this season weren’t scored by the offense.