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Playing for Coach
The Trojans gathered at the 50-yard line after dismissing the Corvallis curse to lift Ed Orgeron on their collective shoulders and let the world know how grateful they are. "A lot of us look at him like a father. I know I do," said RB Buck Allen. "He just believes in us. He wants us to have fun and enjoy ourselves." USC is now 3-1 in the Orgeron era, and the Trojans are carrying an avalanche of momentum into the season's final month. "He's really turned this program around," said S Dion Bailey. "He just makes the experience so much fun. The least we can do is get him victories."(Photo by Kirby Lee)
Buck Wild
Once buried on the depth chart, Allen has emerged this season as a violent runner. Tonight, he showed a burst that completes a scary all-around package for opposing defenses. Allen ran for a career-high 133 yards and 3 touchdowns. He ended the night at the top of the ladder leading the Spirit of Troy. "It is an honor," he said. "I just want to thank my whole coaching staff for believing in me. And, I want to give a big thanks to my o-line. Without them, I wouldn't be in this position." Silas Redd also topped the 100-yard mark (140 rushing yards) for the second time in three games.
Starting to Believe
USC jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but then adversity struck when the Beavers followed a Brandin Cooks touchdown with a pick-six of Cody Kessler. In the recent past, the Trojans have folded under road pressure, but this time, they rose up together in response. "I really felt the turning point of the game was when Cody threw the pick, and they came back and they scored. We kept fighting, and we started believing. That was the turning point of the game," said Orgeron. The Trojans finished the game with 17 unanswered points.
Welcome Back Mr. Lee
All-American WR Marqise Lee marked his return to action with a 71-yard touchdown catch on the Trojans first offensive play. He was so wide open that he described the play as "the hardest catch of my life" since the whole time he was thinking "don't drop it, don't drop it, don't drop it." He finished with 5 catches for 105 yards, and most importantly, he is healthy and ready to close the season strong.Making Life Easy
Going against the nation's No. 1 passing offense, the USC defense yielded only 7 points on 277 yards through the air, which is 143 yards under the Beavers per game average before tonight. The game plan featured a steady pass rush led by Devon Kennard (2 sacks), which teed up three interceptions of OSU QB Sean Mannion, who had only three INTs on the season. "We have a terrific front four," said Bailey, who had one of the picks. "The way they rush the passer really makes our job easy. All we've got to do is come down with the ball." CB Josh Shaw and CB Kevon Seymour also got in on the pick party.
Something Happening Here
USC is starting to believe that anything is possible this season. The sideline and locker room are on fire with singing, dancing and smiling Trojans filled to the brim with confidence. "It's electric," Orgeron said about the team room. "It's a deserving feeling for our football team, our football family." Just a game back in the Pac-12 South, could this team make a run for the Roses? It's too early for that talk, but something special is definitely happening. "Believing," Orgeron explained. "They don't want to let their team down. We're growing. We're not talking about it, we're doing it. Their actions are saying that we are one football team, one family. You'll do anything for your family."
Two-point conversion...
A Nod to the Past
Marqise Lee admitted that the current Trojans had the 2006, 2008 and 2010 teams in mind preparing for this game. "Let's get this one for the older teams," he said about the Trojans' motivation.
A View from on High
Orgeron had never been carried on his team's shoulders before, but he could get used to it. "I don't think it's ever happened. That was a good feeling. They had me all the way up. Those are some strong boys," Orgeron said.
Here are the SnappyTV highlights via Pac-12.com...
