University Southern California Trojans
USC Football Goes To Undefeated No. 10 Arizona
October 05, 2014 | Football
Oct. 5, 2014
After a 2-game homestand that ended with a stunning Hail Mary TD loss to Arizona State last Saturday, USC now has to go back on the road to play undefeated No. 10 Arizona. The Trojans have captured more than 75% of their games against the Wildcats, including 6 of the past 8 meetings in Tucson, in a series that dates to 1916. But the last 7 USC-Arizona games have been decided by a touchdown or less, including last year's Trojan victory on a Thursday in the Coliseum when interim head coach Ed Orgeron made his debut. Guiding the Trojans this year is new head coach Steve Sarkisian, who favors an up-tempo no huddle offense and an aggressive defense. Troy's offense, which has already has eclipsed 200 rushing yards 3 times this year, has gone the past 4 games without a turnover, its best streak since 1995. QB Cody Kessler has thrown 182 passes without an interception dating to last year and his 69.5% completion rate this year is No. 7 nationally. TB Javorius Allen, who has a quartet of 100-yard rushing games in 2014, leads the Pac-12 in rushing and is seventh in the country in all-purpose running. WR Nelson Agholor is USC's top receiver and is a dangerous returner, as evidenced by his punt return TD last week (giving him a school record-tying 3 in his career). The Trojan defense features All-American DE Leonard Williams, ILB Hayes Pullard (Troy's current tackle leader as well as in 2 previous seasons) and always-around-the-ball 2013 Freshman All-American S Su'a Cravens, who already has 8.5 tackles for a loss in 2014 to go with his 5 career picks. The USC defense is in the national Top 25 in third down conversion defense, turnover margin, interceptions, red zone defense, scoring defense and first down defense. USC has yet to suit up more than 57 recruited scholarship players in 2014 because of NCAA-mandated scholarship limitations. Seven true freshmen have played significant roles for Troy (all have started at times), including 3-way player Adoree' Jackson. Head coach Rich Rodriguez's Arizona squad is off to its best start since 1998 after posting a road upset last Thursday at No. 2 Oregon. The Wildcats' spread offense is potent: in the Top 20 nationally in total offense (574.0), passing offense (350.0) and scoring offense (39.8). And UA has run for at least 100 yards in 27 consecutive games. Redshirt freshman QB Anu Solomon, who earlier this season set the Pac-12 record for total offense (566 yards) against California, is No. 4 in the nation in total offense and No. 7 in passing offense. WR Cayleb Jones, who is sixth nationally in receiving TDs and 14th in receiving yards, tops a Wildcats receiving corps that also features WRs Nate Phillips and Austin Hill, who has a catch in 22 straight contests. First-year frosh TB Nick Wilson, 18th nationally in rushing, is UA's leading ground gainer. MLB Scooby Wright III (58 tac, 8 for loss, 5 sack, 1 FR, 2 FF) does it all for the Wildcat defense, as he ranks high nationally in total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, solo tackles and forced fumbles. The game will be shown live on ESPN2.
After a 2-game homestand that ended with a stunning Hail Mary TD loss to Arizona State last Saturday, USC now has to go back on the road to play undefeated No. 10 Arizona. The Trojans have captured more than 75% of their games against the Wildcats, including 6 of the past 8 meetings in Tucson, in a series that dates to 1916. But the last 7 USC-Arizona games have been decided by a touchdown or less, including last year's Trojan victory on a Thursday in the Coliseum when interim head coach Ed Orgeron made his debut. Guiding the Trojans this year is new head coach Steve Sarkisian, who favors an up-tempo no huddle offense and an aggressive defense. Troy's offense, which has already has eclipsed 200 rushing yards 3 times this year, has gone the past 4 games without a turnover, its best streak since 1995. QB Cody Kessler has thrown 182 passes without an interception dating to last year and his 69.5% completion rate this year is No. 7 nationally. TB Javorius Allen, who has a quartet of 100-yard rushing games in 2014, leads the Pac-12 in rushing and is seventh in the country in all-purpose running. WR Nelson Agholor is USC's top receiver and is a dangerous returner, as evidenced by his punt return TD last week (giving him a school record-tying 3 in his career). The Trojan defense features All-American DE Leonard Williams, ILB Hayes Pullard (Troy's current tackle leader as well as in 2 previous seasons) and always-around-the-ball 2013 Freshman All-American S Su'a Cravens, who already has 8.5 tackles for a loss in 2014 to go with his 5 career picks. The USC defense is in the national Top 25 in third down conversion defense, turnover margin, interceptions, red zone defense, scoring defense and first down defense. USC has yet to suit up more than 57 recruited scholarship players in 2014 because of NCAA-mandated scholarship limitations. Seven true freshmen have played significant roles for Troy (all have started at times), including 3-way player Adoree' Jackson. Head coach Rich Rodriguez's Arizona squad is off to its best start since 1998 after posting a road upset last Thursday at No. 2 Oregon. The Wildcats' spread offense is potent: in the Top 20 nationally in total offense (574.0), passing offense (350.0) and scoring offense (39.8). And UA has run for at least 100 yards in 27 consecutive games. Redshirt freshman QB Anu Solomon, who earlier this season set the Pac-12 record for total offense (566 yards) against California, is No. 4 in the nation in total offense and No. 7 in passing offense. WR Cayleb Jones, who is sixth nationally in receiving TDs and 14th in receiving yards, tops a Wildcats receiving corps that also features WRs Nate Phillips and Austin Hill, who has a catch in 22 straight contests. First-year frosh TB Nick Wilson, 18th nationally in rushing, is UA's leading ground gainer. MLB Scooby Wright III (58 tac, 8 for loss, 5 sack, 1 FR, 2 FF) does it all for the Wildcat defense, as he ranks high nationally in total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, solo tackles and forced fumbles. The game will be shown live on ESPN2.
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