A Kevin Mitchell (39) and David Moretti (44) sack USC quarterback Carson Palmer in Oregon’s 24-22 victory Saturday. Adam Amato Emerald Close loss leaves Carroll, USC sick’ ■ After trailing by 15 points in the second half, the Trojans make a late run and nearly end Oregon’s home winning streak By Jeff Smith Oregon Daily Emerald Opposing players typically speak with great respect towards the at mosphere at Autzen Stadium after playing the Ducks on their home turf. Don’t expect Carson Palmer to do the same. “This place is overrated,” Palmer said. “The noise doesn’t affect you as long as you are prepared for it, and it didn’t affect us.” Perhaps, but despite putting up quite a fight, USC again fell just short against Oregon, 24-22, Satur day night for its fourth straight loss against the Ducks. While the Trojan players have been through these types of heart break defeats in their careers, the loss was a first for new USC head coach Pete Carroll, and he took it hard. “I guess the people who’ve come here in the past, that have seen USC play up here would say this is like all the rest of the games,” Carroll said. “I wouldn’t know anything about that because I’ve only been here once. I thought that was a fine effort to get back and get the lead, and I’m just sick that we didn’t fin ish the game.” The Trojans trailed 21-6, but still believed they had a chance to win. That belief would be bolstered when Trojan tailback Sultan Me Cullough showed off his track speed and sprinted 75 yards for the touchdown. Two drives later, Palmer punched the gut of Oregon and its fans when he connected on a 93 yard touchdown pass to Kareem Kelly, who broke free from the Ore gon secondary and was never touched. The pass play was the longest touchdown .throw in Autzen Stadium history. And then on the Trojans’ next drive, kicker David Davis was true on a 40-yard field goal to give his team the 22-21 lead with 10:20 re maining and put Oregon’s 22-game home winning streak in serious jeopardy. The Ducks battled back in the fi nal moments and attempted a 43 yard field goal with 1:21 to go, but * it was blocked by 6-foot-4 Bobby DeMars. “We were all confident, we thought we had the game won,” said Palmer, who completed 25 of 40 passes for 411 yards, two touch downs and three interceptions. “But Joey got them into field goal range, and that was it.” Added USC defensive tackle Bernard Riley: “We knew (Joey) had the ability for a comeback. We went out there and we knew that we had to get some pressure on him.” It wasn’t enough pressure, and Harrington did what he had to do to give the Ducks a win and send the Trojans back to L.A. with the frus trating feeling of falling just short. “We make one stop or get a first down and we have the victory,” Carroll said. Canon ZR20 or ZR25 MC Camcorder Handspring Visor Edge Handheld HP 315 Digital Camera Rio 600/32MB MP3 Player Buy more. Save more. Buy any Mac and receive a free Lexmark color printer* (tax and other charges not included). Now's the time to buy your Mac. They're fast, easy to use, and loaded with features. Express yourself by creating your own iMovies. Use iTunes to rip MP3s from your favorite CDs, or burn custom CDs. Enhance your work with productivity and graphics software. And share files with anyone. The benefits add up—just like the savings. Save even more when you also buy these great products: Canon XR20 or XR25 MC Camcorder, HP 315 Digital Camera, Handspring Visor Edge Handheld, and Rio 600/32MB MP3 Player. For each product you buy, you’ll receive a $100 instant rebate. Take advantage < >f special student pricing. You can even get an Apple Instant Loan for Education. Buy and save online at the Apple Store for Education: www.apple.com/education/store, call 800-780-5009, or visit Digital Duck at 895 Fast 13th Avenue. Offer good between July 18, 2001, and October 14, 2001 -NiTl-|'ur.,h.t*runiin.il.«*l i'MihKVit,>xik.'>UK.HI(crh:iMii.>nSl«iii>i.imrl'hin;mlV-u\limil.H1ufcf.SufS!l.^IHl1.iilPruvl.*llKUOTMik Mpnmailfkr J«.j!.»xlu»v.inl *4 imura tvhuc I, »SI.«MSKI*.m ilk- UmfkZ«ij*».kipnnitt. VJini.tftleOmifMKlHi .vin&fnimat -V**'. -W* **■ •*«' “'*! Ihnt ili/kmil',m-imkmirts^.tnih-ismi/wicr. In, nvisi,mhii ibc I s mul ,4kr fminrits iMkk'isltimloii,i'tifytk‘<:„»il>M.'r. Ilk ‘»a.romixmniiKli>n,rimi mniin mnniin.itTnnm mi he muhmirts „I ihcir tefniirc om/nims i linn's is Ik cusetljiir n'linilinlnm „i inmifirixliH.‘it minnils „r umK'rnils lb,- nter is k%iilh in-mmal i„ nyWwi' Authorized Reseller