Dillon Baxter finds the end zone for USC

Reporting from Palo Alto — USC running back Dillon Baxter finally scored his first touchdown in USC’s 37-35 loss to No. 16 Stanford on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium.

Baxter scored on an eight-yard run in the first quarter after taking a direct snap. His run gave USC a 7-0 lead.

Baxter had a hand in 79 touchdowns last season as a senior at San Diego Mission Bay High, but he was off to a slow start at USC.

Coach Lane Kiffin suspended Baxter for the opener at Hawaii for violating team rules.

Baxter got only one carry in USC’s 32-31 loss to Washington on Oct. 2, but he had his best week of practice last week.

Coming soon

Larry Scott, commissioner of the Pacific 10 Conference, said an announcement regarding divisional alignment, the model for a conference championship game and revenue sharing will be made this month.

Scott met with athletic directors during Pac-10 meetings in San Francisco last week. He said he expected an announcement to be made after meetings with university presidents and chancellors Oct. 21.

“We’re getting pretty close,” Scott said during a brief meeting with reporters in the press box at Stanford Stadium. “We’re getting to where I hoped we’d get in advance of our meeting.”

Difference maker

Former Dominguez High standout Richard Sherman continues to haunt the Trojans.

As a receiver in 2007, Sherman had a key reception in the fourth quarter to set up the game-winning touchdown in the Cardinal’s upset of the Trojans at the Coliseum.

Last season, playing defensive back, Sherman intercepted a pass by quarterback Matt Barkley and returned it for a touchdown.

On Saturday, Sherman recovered a second-quarter fumble by fullback Stanley Havili, setting up a touchdown that gave the Cardinal a 14-7 lead.

Horton remains out

USC defensive end Wes Horton did not suit up for the second consecutive week.

Going into the game, Horton had a team-best 4½ tackles for losses, including three sacks.

Horton was injured against Washington State when he was accidently kicked in the back by Trojans end Nick Perry.

Orgeron at work

USC defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who was hospitalized last week because of an infection in his leg, coached from the sideline as expected.

Orgeron was hospitalized Wednesday night but was discharged Thursday.

He had undergone surgery the previous week for a broken bone in his right foot.

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