- Defensive line: Three sacks and constant pressure on the quarterback disrupted any chance the Sun Devils had to put together more than one meaningful drive, especially on the last series of the game.
- Secondary: With three interceptions and superb coverage all night long, the defensive backfield kept Arizona State's air attack at bay, holding it to just 23-of-50 passing in the game.
- Damian Williams' touchdown catch-and-run: Williams' score wouldn't have happened without a brutal block by tight end Rhett Ellison near the line of scrimmage and a timely downfield block by tight end Blake Ayles.
- Punt team: Of Jake Harfman's eight punts, only two were returned (for a total of seven yards), which restricted massive momentum shifts in special teams. Snapper Cooper Stephenson was essentially flawless in the many pressure-packed situations the unit found itself in, and gunner Curtis McNeal had a tackle on the final punt that squelched any return for the Sun Devils and forced them to start at their own 22.
University Southern California Trojans
Beyond the stats
November 01, 2009 | USC Ripsit Blog
Beyond the stats
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Without too many highlight plays in the 14-9 win, that left room for several unsung heroes to step up and help lead the Trojans to victory:
Wednesday, July 08
Wednesday, July 08
Wednesday, July 08
Monday, July 06
