COLLEGE FOOTBALL No. 1 Trojans defensive-minded while staying on unbeaten path

USC seems to have found its identity on defense.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush get the headlines. Southern California's defense does the heavy lifting.
"They carry us," Leinart said.
The USC defense was at its best Saturday, limiting Washington to six first downs and 113 yards in a 38-0 victory. The Huskies hadn't been shut out in nearly 23 years.
"Our defense is the best in the country -- they prove it week in and week out," Leinart said. "They bring a lot of pressure, they do everything that's expected. They held ASU to seven points, and they held Cal to 17, and they shut out Washington.
"It takes great pressure off me. We get great field position all the time."
Perspective
California is averaging nearly 46 points against its five opponents other than USC, which beat the Golden Bears 23-17 on Oct. 9.
Arizona State is averaging 36.3 points against its six opponents other than the Trojans, who beat the Sun Devils 45-7 on Oct. 16.
"We finally found our identity on defense, learning who can play and getting our stuff together for the big charge in the end," defensive tackle Shaun Cody said.
The top-ranked Trojans (7-0, 4-0 Pac-10) lead the conference in scoring defense, allowing 10.7 points per game, and are second in total defense, giving up an average of 270 yards -- a yard more than Cal.
USC has allowed nine touchdowns in its seven games.
"Everyone is getting going, everyone is hungry for the big plays, everyone is hungry for stats," defensive end Frostee Rucker said.
Washington punted 10 times and never held the ball for more than six consecutive plays.
"We just kept cranking those three-and-outs," USC coach Pete Carroll said.
"Their defense looked like they do on Sundays," Washington coach Keith Gilbertson said Sunday, referring to NFL defenses. "They just don't make mistakes. We could not generate a lick of offense."
Streaks snapped
The Huskies (1-6, 0-4) were blanked for the first time since Nov. 7, 1981, when they lost to UCLA 31-0. Washington's streak of scoring in 271 straight games was the longest active among Division I-A schools. Nevada has scored in 287 straight games, but its streak includes 142 as a Division I-AA school.
The shutout was the Trojans' second this season, their fourth in 20 games and sixth in 45 games under Carroll, who was hired in 2001.
USC has not allowed a touchdown in the fourth quarter this season.
Carroll said he wasn't aware of Washington's scoring streak until after the game.
"I don't put much stock in it -- it's fun for the record books," he said. "When you feel that happening, it's fun to close that out.
"We're getting it going on defense. We've gotten way better in the last few weeks."
USC blew the game open by scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter for a 31-0 lead. Off to their best start since 1988 when they won their first 10 games, the Trojans have won 16 straight, 19 in a row at home and 27 of 28 overall.
Leinart passed for 217 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 54 scoring passes in the 20 games he has started at USC. He has thrown at least one TD pass in each of those 20 games and two or more in 18 of the 20.
Bush caught a career-high six passes for 41 yards and one touchdown; gained 55 yards on 13 carries, and finished with 126 all-purpose yards. He has scored 17 touchdowns in his 20-game USC career and is averaging 175.7 all-purpose yards this year.