Cushing’s return a mood-lifter for Trojans’ defense

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The defense that on Saturday became the first in four years to shut out Notre Dame at home was bolstered by the return of junior linebacker Brian Cushing, who had barely played since the season opener against Idaho because of a bothersome ankle.

“With Cush back, spiritually it gives us a great boost because of his temperament,” defensive coordinator Nick Holt said after the Trojans’ 38-0 victory over the Fighting Irish. “He brings a lot of fire to our huddle.”

Cushing, who had not played since Sept. 22 against Washington State, had two tackles and said his ankle “felt 100% right now.”

“From a personal perspective, I just love being out here back with my teammates,” Cushing said.

“It’s great. I think we showed some things we’re capable of as a defense. This is big for us.”

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Sophomore tailback Stafon Johnson played for the first time since suffering foot injuries against Washington on Sept. 29.

Johnson sat out against Stanford and Arizona because of a bruise and sprain, but he carried eight times for 47 yards against the Irish, including a 17-yard gain that helped set up the Trojans’ second touchdown.

“I told the coaches I felt good and they were confident to let me go,” Johnson said. “It was still painful but it was bearable.”

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Freshman running back Joe McKnight scored his first touchdown when he broke off the left side and ran 51 yards to the end zone in the fourth quarter.

“It was a wide open hole and I ran to it,” McKnight said.

The touchdown helped ease the pain of a tailbone bruise McKnight suffered when he fumbled a punt in the first quarter. McKnight recovered the fumble but he was held largely in check before breaking loose.

“It felt good,” he said of the touchdown. “Hopefully, I’ll get more.”

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Tight end Fred Davis and wide receiver Vidal Hazelton made highlight-reel plays for touchdowns.

After USC recovered a punt that had hit an Irish player, Davis made a one-handed catch for a 10-yard touchdown, a play that conjured memories of former All-American Dwayne Jarrett.

“I’m going to call him about it tonight and tell him I stole one of his moves,” Davis said.

In the third quarter, Hazelton caught a midrange pass, then sprinted down the left sideline. He cut back toward the goal post before colliding with a Notre Dame player and then reversing his field toward the left pylon.

“I knew as long as I kept going forward, I was going to get there eventually,” Hazelton said of the 48-yard scoring play.

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USC, Michigan and Michigan State are the only teams to beat Notre Dame in six consecutive meetings. . . . Irish Coach Charlie Weis is 5-9 against ranked teams and 0-3 against USC.

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After experiencing a harrowing flight to South Bend, some players were apprehensive about the return trip to Los Angeles.

Several passengers on USC’s charter Thursday were thrown from their seats and hit their heads on the ceiling after the plane dropped on an initial approach in a lightning storm. The approach was aborted before the plane circled and landed safely.

“It looked like Whack-a-Mole with all the heads popping up,” Coach Pete Carroll said after the victory over Notre Dame.

Asked if he was looking forward to the plane ride home, fullback Stanley Havili said, “No. Not at all. I’m going to take a few sleeping pills and knock out.”

Said linebacker Keith Rivers: “Not quite. My seat belt broke and I was a little projectile in the plane. But we’ve got to do it.”

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gary.klein@latimes.com

ben.bolch@latimes.com