Click here for the recap and final stats.
Click here for the post-game press conference.
Click here for the Rapid Reaction.
Cam the Man
A star was born tonight in the Coliseum. Freshman linebacker Cam Smith flipped the game on its head by picking off Utah QB Travis Wilson three times, including a pick-six. "What a tremendous difference maker he was tonight," said interim head coach Clay Helton about Smith. "In a 14-7 game, needing a spark, he provided not one, not two, but three [interceptions]. He really separated the game. He is the star in this one." Smith, who became the first Trojan since Jason Oliver in 1991 to complete the interception hat trick, added a team-high nine tackles, but his instincts won the game. "I just read his eyes a couple times and got lucky," said a humble Smith about his big night.Sewing the Patches
Sophomore Toa Lobendahn, who took over the center position from injured captain Max Tuerk, went down with a knee issue of his own, leaving Khaliel Rodgers to lead a patchwork offensive line. "Make sure everybody hugs and pats Khaliel Rodgers on the back," said Helton. "There's few times you are ever going to get to your third center and for him to come out and do what he did against a very tough Utah front, I'm just very proud of him." The key for Rodgers was staying prepared even when he was down on the depth chart. "I just took my time with it. I knew my time was going to come," said Rodgers, who was one of four forced changes to the offensive line from the first five games of the season. "I'm proud of my line right know."
Sticking with Success
All season, Helton has stressed balance as the key to success, but tonight, he changed the game plan, running 44 times to only 29 passes. "We really preached physicality this week," said Helton. "There were going to be times where it was going to be them or us. Two fourth-and-1s...that really separated the game." The fourth-and-1 plays turned into goal line scores for Soma Vainuku and Cody Kessler, the second of which capped a 17-play drive which chewed up 8:53 of the third quarter. "You know when your coach is behind you, the sky's the limit," said RB Justin Davis, who tied a career-high with 19 carries. "We were not worrying that Utah was the No. 1 [rush] defense, we were going to run the ball no matter what. We just kept plugging away." Freshman RB Ronald Jones II was outstanding again with 73 yards on 15 carries and a TD.
Close the Book
USC's much-maligned rush defense rose up as one to hold All-Pac-12 RB Devontae Booker to a season-low 62 yards rushing. "I thought they played together. We talked about playing together as a band of brothers and you saw that tonight," said Helton, who wanted to force the Utes to throw the ball. "They operated the plan to perfection." The Trojans had seven tackles-for-loss, including three sacks (two by Delvon Simmons) and forced four turnovers.
Quick and Clean
While everything was going right on the field, a MASH unit was piling up on the sideline. The Trojans came into the game depleted at wide receiver before losing tight ends Taylor McNamara (shoulder) and Tyler Petite (foot). "We knew it was next man up," said Davis who started in place of injured RB Tre Madden. "We have to put the same confidence in the backup as we do in the starter. That's the only way we can get the job done." The passing game adjusted by getting the ball out of Cody Kessler's hand quickly and efficiently as the senior threw for 264 yards on 21/28. Once the defense sucked up to the line of scrimmage, Kessler was able to go over the top to JuJu Smith-Schuster (8 catches for 143 yards) for the game-sealing score.
Believe
While USC's bandwagon was nearly empty as the Trojans pulled into this game against No. 3 Utah, Helton never stopped believing in his team. Now, USC has a result to back up his faith. "We can be as good as you want to be, you just showed the world that," Helton said to the Trojans after the game. The team and the Trojan Family, judging by the boisterous Coliseum crowd, are buying in. "When you believe, and you have a team like we do, and you just believe in the family, you can go far with it," said Rodgers. "We just believe in each other."
Here are the highlights...
