Saints assistant joins USC football staff


USC coach Pete Carroll hired New Orleans Saints assistant coach John Morton to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Lane Kiffin to the Oakland Raiders. Morton, 37, will coach the wide receivers and will also fill the role of passing-game coordinator.

He worked for the Raiders when USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was an assistant there. Sarkisian replaces Kiffin as the Trojans' play caller. USC also lost video director Joe Schrimpl, who resigned to work for a sports technology company.

Meanwhile, the Trojans received commitments from wide receiver-cornerback Ronald Johnson of Muskegon, Mich., who was ranked the No.8 player in the nation by Rivals.com, and defensive end Trey Henderson of Vancouver, British Columbia.

USC is still waiting to hear from the nation's top tailback, Joe McKnight. Another top 10 player, defensive tackle Marvin Austin, is expected to select North Carolina over USC and several other schools.

Camarillo quarterback Samson Szakacsy, who committed to USC last May, changed his mind and will now attend Arizona State.

- Scott Wolf

BASEBALL

No. 13 UCLA 19, No. 23 Winthrop 5: Freshman Gabe Cohen (El Camino Real of Woodland Hills) went 3

for 4 with a grand slam in his first start to lead the host Bruins (2-1), who scored 13 runs in the fourth inning.
Pacific 12, Cal State Northridge 0: Hunter Carnevale and two relievers combined on a six-hitter for the host Tigers. Todd Shelton went 2for4 for CSUN (4-2), which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

UNLV 7, No. 19 Pepperdine 6: Michael Brenly singled home the winning run with oneout in the bottom of the ninth for the host Rebels. Chase d'Arnaud led the Waves (1-2) with threehits.

WOMEN'S WATER POLO

No. 2 UCLA 11, No. 1 USC 10: Jillian Kraus scored three goals to lead the Bruins to the victory in the championship of the Stanford Invitational.

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