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--> --> Oregon State, USC just trying to salvage seasons LOS ANGELES (AP) - Oregon State and USC, teams that started with high expectations, instead are trying to salvage disappointing seasons. OSU's Beavers, 11-1 last year and ranked 11th in this year's preseason poll, lost three of their first four games and are 3-4, with a 2-3 Pac-10 record going into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. EST game at the Los Angeles Coliseum. "The beginning of the season definitely has been a little rough, as you can tell from our record," Oregon State linebacker Richard Seigler said. He noted, though, that the Beavers have won two of their last three. "We're just trying to keep this thing going. We really still believe that we're a team that could get to a bowl game," said Seigler, who is tied for fifth in the Pac-10 with an average of nine tackles a game. The Trojans have won just three of eight and also are 2-3 in conference. But like Seigler and the Beavers, USC quarterback Carson Palmer and his teammates still hope to finish with a winning record and earn a bowl bid. "We know that if we're to have a chance to make a bowl, we've got to win the rest of our games. That definitely is a motivational tool," said Palmer, who has thrown for 1,986 yards this fall. The Beavers are coming off a 19-10 victory over California. They beat Arizona 38-3 before losing 41-24 at Arizona State two weeks ago. "We played very well against Arizona and last week against Cal on defense," Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson said. "That has been the key to our success." USC also has won two of three, beating Arizona State 48-17, losing 27-16 at Notre Dame, then beating Arizona 41-34 last weekend. "We need to hold this momentum to finish the season," said Pete Carroll, in his first year as the USC coach. "What's important now is finishing strong and on a high note." Oregon State's offense features tailback Ken Simonton, quarterback Jonathan Smith and flanker James Newsome. Simonton, who last year rushed for 234 yards in a 31-21 win over USC and was one of the nation's best runners, has had a relatively quiet senior season. He has carried 133 times for 544 yards. Smith has completed 110-of-201 for 1,374 yards and seven touchdowns, but also has thrown seven interceptions. Newsome, a sophomore who has played well recently, has 39 catches for a 14.5-yard average. He had eight receptions for 166 yards against California. The Trojans' offense counters with the passing of Palmer, who has thrown for 11 touchdowns but also has had 10 picked off. Kareem Kelly, with 35 receptions for 604 yards, is Palmer's favorite target. USC again will be without tailback Sultan McCullough, who missed the last two games with an abdominal strain. Sunny Byrd, who has gained 202 yards on 64 carries, gets his third start at tailback. The Trojans are favored by 6 1/2 points. They lead the series 53-8-4 and had won 26 in a row before last year's loss. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing