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The Comeback KidsFor the first time in 10 years, a USC football team overturned a double-digit halftime deficit and came back to win. "At half, we said, 'We're in this together. We can either quit or we can come out and do everything that we need to win,'" said QB Cody Kessler, who threw three touchdown passes. The Trojans have found a way to win back-to-back games despite 14-point first half deficits. Interim head coach Clay Helton was extremely proud of his team after the game, calling them "a bunch of kids that refuse to fail and keep on fighting on," and saying, "This is something bigger than us right now because these are lessons that they will take for the rest of their lives."
Start Me Up
While the comebacks are impressive, the Trojans know that this pattern of success is unsustainable, especially with Oregon and UCLA up next. "The last two weeks, we've dug ourselves a big hole and it's my job as a head coach to fix it," said Helton. "We've got to bottle some of that second half stuff and move it to the first half." USC has been outscored 56-20 in the first quarter over the last five games.
Backup Plan
Colorado QB Sefo Liufau came out firing, completing 6/8 for 94 yards before suffering a leg injury caused by USC's pass rush. Seeing freshman QB Cade Apsay pressed into duty, the Trojans pounced. "As a rusher, we are going to pin our ears back and hunt this guy down because he is not used to this environment," said OLB Scott Felix. "We just want to make the moment bigger than what he can handle." Apsay was efficient (18/23) as a thrower, but lacked the running ability to bother the Trojans and could not hook up the deep ball. "It allowed us to put a little more pressure in the box and stop the run in the second half, which was good," said Helton about the quarterback change.
The Run
Down 17-3 in the second quarter, USC ran off 24 consecutive points, starting with a momentum building 41-yard field goal going into halftime by Alex Wood. The Trojans emerged from the locker room as a different team, forcing an immediate stop, followed by FB Jahleel Pinner's first career touchdown. "It felt good," said Pinner about his score. "It's been awhile since I scored a touchdown. I always wanted my first touchdown to be in the Coliseum, but definitely, with this type of game, it's what we needed and I'll take this any time." DL Delvon Simmons then setup the next two touchdowns by forcing a fumble and blocking a field goal.
Sackmasters
Early in the season, the Trojans were barely breathing on opposing quarterbacks. Over the last five games, the pass rush has produced 19 sacks, including six tonight. "I think the biggest change is that Coach Helton is with us on pass rush now," Felix said. "He makes it a really intense part of practice. When you have your head coach down there, pushing you every single time, giving positive reinforcement, that's going to take effect after a while." The Trojans also posted 10 tackles-for-loss for the second consecutive game.
Duck Hunting
After the game, Helton spoke to the Trojans about the special story they are writing. USC is 4-0 in the second half of the season, but two mighty chapters are yet to be penned in this fairy tale. Up next, USC travels to Eugene to take on Oregon, the national runners-up last year. "It's going to be another week of tactical preparation. We are going to come ready in Oregon," Felix promised. The Trojans have not traveled to Autzen Stadium since stunning the Ducks in 2011, and the budding rivalry has been on a two-year hiatus due to the Pac-12's rotational schedule. Hostilities will be renewed next Saturday.
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