11:47 PM CST on Wednesday, January 4, 2006

By JIM VERTUNO / AP Sports Writer

PASADENA, Calif. — Texas quarterback Vince Young eluded the defense - and the replay officials - and second-ranked Texas broke loose with a big second quarter Wednesday night to take a 16-10 halftime lead over No. 1 Southern California at the Rose Bowl.

   

	CHRIS CARLSON / AP                         Texas running back Selvin Young (22) is hauled down by a group of Southern California defenders in the first quarter of action as Texas meets Southern California in the Rose Bowl, the national championship college football game in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006.

  

Shut out in the first quarter for the first time this season, the Longhorns' high-powered offense roared back with a no-huddle attack that drove 80 yards for their first touchdown.

Meantime, the Texas defense bottled up the Trojans' Heisman Trophy duo of quarterback Matt Leinart and tailback Reggie Bush. In fact, with USC leading 7-0 and storming to another score, it was a foolish pitch by Bush that shifted the momentum to Texas.

In a game matching unbeaten teams averaging 50 points per game, turnovers kept getting in the way. And trying for its unprecedented third straight national championship, USC was hurt more. The result: For the fifth time this season, the Trojans trailed at halftime as Texas tried to win its first outright title since 1969.

The key play came when Bush pitched the ball on a breakaway run and Texas recovered it. Bush's mistake led to David Pino's 46-yard field.

Later, Leinart threw his first interception in three championship games in the Texas end zone.

Young then moved quickly downfield, and the Longhorns scored when he broke through the left side of the line. He pitched the ball to tailback Selvin Young, who slipped through three tacklers to get into the end zone.

Young was being tackled when he tossed it, and television replays showed his knee was down before it left his hands. Game officials did not review the play and USC coach Pete Carroll did not call a timeout to try to force their hand.

A moment later, a TV shot of the replay booth showed three officials looking closely at the screen in front of them. One official pulled away and shook his head, as if realizing the call had been missed.

Coach Mack Brown's team struck again with the up-tempo offense when Ramonce Taylor scampered 30 yards for a 16-7 lead.

Southern California, which came in the game with a 34-game winning streak and drawing comparisons to some of the greatest college teams in history, seemed rattled by the Longhorns' burst.

The Trojans got off to a quick start in taking an early 7-0 lead on LenDale White's 4-yard TD run. They capitalized on two huge mistakes by the Longhorns before a sea of fans wearing burnt orange.

After forcing USC to punt on its opening drive, Texas gave it right back when Aaron Ross fumbled the ball. Ross has two returns for touchdowns this season, but dropped the ball when he was spun around and took a vicious hit by Scott Ware.

Southern California has punished opponents by forcing turnovers all season. They did it again when Leinart hit David Kirtman for a 23-yard gain - a vicious hit knocked off Kirtman's helmet. The play set up White's score.

Both 12-0, USC and Texas have been ranked 1-2 since the preseason and rolled through their schedules with the highest scoring offenses in the country. The Longhorns average a point more than USC - even so, the Trojans were favored to win by about a touchdown.

The Trojans also boast the last two Heisman winners. Leinart won in 2004 and Bush, who won this season, were the first two Heisman duo to play together in a college game.

The Longhorns have won 19 in a row behind Young, who finished second to Bush this year for the Heisman.

For Young, the Rose Bowl was a return to the biggest game of his career. He ran for 192 yards, passed for 180 more and accounted for five touchdowns last season in a 38-37 win over Michigan in Texas' first Rose Bowl appearance.