Click here for the recap and final stats.
Click here for the post-game press conference.
Hello HeismanStanford RB Christian McCaffrey put together a showstopping performance, accounting for 461 all-purpose yards. "He's as special a player as we've played all season," said head coach Clay Helton about the sophomore tailback. "I'll be shocked if he's not in New York as one of those guys that's up for the Heisman." McCaffrey ran 32 times for 207 yards, made four catches for 105 yards and scored three different ways (rushing, receiving and passing). "He's a great player and I respect his game and what he brings to the table," said fellow Hornung Award finalist Adoree' Jackson. "I like his game. That's a rare thing I say about people. I have the utmost respect for him."
Beating the Blueprint
USC's formula for success under Clay Helton is centered around winning the rush game and the turnover battle, but Stanford out gained the Trojans on the ground (262-170) and forced the game's lone, crucial turnover. "They played better than us upfront," admitted Helton. "That's a good football team. Give credit to them. They played better than us tonight." The Cardinal will deservedly represent the Pac-12 in the Rose Bowl.
Second Half Team
During the first half, the Trojans were on the precipice of getting blown out. "We struggled in that first quarter," said Helton about his team falling behind 13-0. "We had to get our motor jump-started a little bit. The kids were great at halftime. They knew all they had to do was do their jobs." Freshman OLB Porter Gustin sprung the Trojans into life with a huge 4th down stop in the red zone, sparking 16 consecutive points, including the first 13 of the third quarter.
Twists and Turns
After halftime, USC blitzed the Cardinal with a pair of touchdown drives, sandwiched around a defensive stop, to take a 16-13 lead. Then, on third down, McCaffrey struck a critical blow with a 67-yard catch-and-run when the Trojans "played to stop the run" and got beat in man-to-man coverage, according to Helton. A possession later, QB Cody Kessler was drilled on a strip-sack, which the Cardinal scooped up for a backbreaking score. "We came back, took the lead and really thought we had a chance there, but we made a critical error in pass protection," said Helton.
Remember the Feeling
The Trojans battled bravely, so they were in despair in the post-game locker room after falling short of their championship goals. "I want them to remember this feeling," said Helton. "I feel sorry for our whole football team that we lost this game, but one of the things that you look for as a coach is how bad it hurts your team, and there are a lot of sad kids in this locker room, which is a good sign. Our goal is going to be to be back here next year and we don't want this feeling again."
Let's Go Bowling
The season is not over just yet. USC will find out its bowl destination at some point on Sunday and several scenarios are still in play. No matter where the Trojans land, Helton will be proud to lead them out. "I am just very, very happy to have another game with a bunch of great seniors and this team," said the head coach. "The beauty of the Pac-12 is that there are a bunch of great bowl games. I'm just looking forward to having a chance to get this bad taste out of my mouth and be around these great kids one more time."
Here are the Pac-12 Championship highlights:
