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LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Maybe Kansas State should have scheduled some tough non-conference opponents all along. Josh Scobey rushed for 165 yards and 11th-ranked Kansas State forced a key fumble late in the fourth quarter to give coach Bill Snyder his 100th career victory with a 10-6 win over Southern California. In recent years, the non-conference portion of the Kansas State schedule consisted of schools such as Ball State, Temple and Indiana State. The Wildcats raised the bar with a visit to the Los Angeles Coliseum, but were equal to the challenge and handed Pete Carroll his first loss as USC coach. Snyder improved to 100-43-1 in his 12th season at Kansas State. "There was no celebration. Our players understand this is only a foundation," Snyder said. "We're a team without an identity and we're building one." Scobey carried 27 times, including a fumble into the end zone that was recovered by left guard Nick Leckey for a touchdown that gave Kansas State a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback Ell Roberson also had a strong game in his first career start, carrying 21 times for 119 yards. But Roberson completed only 7-of-16 passes for 26 yards. "I need to be a better passer than I showed tonight," Roberson said. "USC has been practing for us for a week. We've been practicing for them for a month." The Wildcats (1-0) opened the scoring on a 41-yard field goal by Jared Brite in the first quarter. With its offense shut down in the first half, the Trojans finally broke through on a seven-yard TD run by Sultan McCullough in the third quarter. But the extra point was blocked after David Davis missed a 42-yard field goal attempt earlier in the game. The Trojans moved inside the Kansas State 30 on their final drive before quarterback Carson Palmer was hit by a pair of defenders and fumbled. Defensive end Henry Bryant pounced on the ball, ending USC's chances for a victory. It was the only turnover of the game for USC (1-1), which fumbled away the ball 18 times during a dismal 5-7 season in 2000 that led to the firing of Paul Hackett. Palmer completed just 16-of-36 passes for 197 yards and also led USC in rushing with 60 yards on 12 carries. McCullough gained just 40 yards on 18 carries. Kansas State was sluggish at times and was flagged 10 times for 81 yards. But that did not prevent it from winning its 29th straight regular season game over non-conference teams. The Wildcats won their 12th straight season opener. The Trojans also were penalized 10 times.
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