TEMPE - It was just another in a series of fairy-tale endings for this year's Cinderella team.

The star running back was injured and the back-up saved the day. The quarterback fought through two early interceptions to break all odds in overtime. The largest crowd in school history - 74,947 total - was on hand to take part in a game-ending dogpile filled with tears of celebration.

All that added up to a thrilling come-from-behind 48-35 win for Arizona State over Southern Cal Saturday at Frank Kush Field at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.

ASU's Courtney Jackson tried to sum it all up in one word, "beautiful." Keith Poole said it was "crazy," Juan Roque said "it was just another day's work," but Terry Battle said it best with "destiny."

Arizona State is now 7-0 (4-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference) having beaten Southern Cal 48-35 and stands alone at the top of the conference after California lost 21-18 to Washington State.

"The road to Pasadena comes through Tempe, and we just took a big step in that direction," ASU quarterback Jake Plummer said.

"It was a great football game," Trojan head coach John Robinson said.

It finally ended in the second overtime period when USC's Brad Otton tried to throw a shovel pass to Rodney Sermons. With Albrey Battle hanging on his waste, Otton awkwardly tried to make something happen. ASU had already scored on their possession, a 25-yard touchdown run by Terry Battle on the first play.

Otton's pass was short and rolled along the turf where Jackson picked it up and took off towards the endzone amid all the confusion. With no whistle stopping the play, Jackson went 85 yards untouched and the riot began.

"I flipped it like a shovel-pass. I thought they (ASU) were screwing around when they returned it. We were just standing around waiting for the official to make a call," Otton said.

However, the finish could not overshadow how the Sun Devils got there and who did it for them.

Terry Battle, replacing Michael Martin who was injured last week against UCLA, rushed 30 times for 184 yards and 4 touchdowns, all career highs.

"Terry wore some tape on his wrist and it had Michael Martin's number on it. Terry just stepped it up today," Snyder said. "We all knew that he was a good back, but today he got the chance to start against one of the premier teams in the nation and he showed everybody what he could do."

In the first overtime, the Trojans received the ball first.The drive started with Southern Cal moving backwards after a holding call that pushed the them back to the 38. Three plays later, though, Otton hit a wide-open Sermons in the right side of the north endzone for a six-point lead that silenced the crowd.

Plummer ended all ASU concern when he found Poole in nearly the same spot to force the second OT.

"He is one of the most competitive quarterbacks that I've seen. His style is similar to Joe Montana with his ability to make plays," USC head coach John Robinson said.

Plummer completed passes from all conceivable angles, finishing with 277 yards on 26 of 44 passing with 2 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Two of the picks came on the team's first two possessions and resulted in an early USC 14-0 lead. Plummer had two touchdown-saving tackles in the first four minutes.

Otton found John Allred from 15 yards out on the first USC drive and LaVale Woods went 13 yards up the middle, barely touched on the second.

At halftime the teams were tied 14-14, but the Sun Devils had 260 total yards to the Trojans' 93. USC repeatedly stopped themselves with penalties and mistakes.

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