University Southern California Trojans
6-Points: ASU 38, USC 35
October 27, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
USC's home winning streak is snapped at 19.
Brutal Blow
"Very sad locker room," head coach Clay Helton said after his team dropped a heartbreaker to Arizona State in the Coliseum. The Trojans are in desperate straits now, falling to 4-4 on the season and 3-3 in the Pac-12. USC's home winning streak ends at 19 after its comeback attempt was thwarted by a resilient Arizona State team. "It was one of those games where we had some mistakes and in the end you look back and there's going to be three or four plays that you look back and that's the difference in the game," Helton said. The Trojans scored 21 consecutive points to flip a 17-point first half deficit, but N'Keal Harry's 92-yard punt return for a touchdown gave the Sun Devils the lead for good.
Decisions, Decisions
Down 31-28 in the fourth quarter, Helton opted to go for it on 4th-and-1, eschewing a 38-yard game-tying field goal attempt. The Trojans were stuffed on an Aca'Cedric Ware run. "I called timeout because I told the kids we'd be aggressive in this game," Helton explained his decision. "I thought we had a good play called and we got penetration in the A-gap on a power play that worked for us earlier." Late in the fourth quarter, Helton decided to punt on 4th-and-2 instead of going for it backed up in his own end. "I knew if we could punt it down and be able to get a three-and-out we'd probably have about two and a half [minutes] and change rather than if you don't make the 4th-and-2, it's pretty much ballgame." After the game, Helton said he would make the same call again in both cases.
Jacked Up
In his collegiate debut, RS freshman QB Jack Sears started slowly, but he grew in confidence as the game progressed and finished with an impressive stat line (20/28 for 235 yards and 2 TD/0 INT). "I gotta go out and play better in the first half," Sears said. "I felt comfortable in the second half and guys never stopped believing in me. It was fun to rally with them and keep competing and we fought to the very end."
TV Tricks
Redshirt sophomore WR Tyler Vaughns had a unique afternoon. He became the fifth player in college football to throw a touchdown pass, catch a touchdown pass and return a punt for a touchdown in the same game since 2000. USC's game logs go back as far as 1971 and no one has done what he did today in that time. He racked up 151 all-purpose yards which does not include his 36-yard TD strike to Michael Pittman Jr.
All About the Benjamin
Arizona State got big games from both its stars, RB Eno Benjamin and WR N'Keal Harry. Benjamin controlled the game, running for 185 yards on 29 carries and scoring twice. The elusive tailback added a big number to his Pac-12-leading total of broken tackles. Meanwhile, Harry complemented the run game with his electrifying punt return and an incredible one-handed catch en route to 203 all-purpose yards.
Walking Wounded
The USC defense has been decimated by injuries, missing captains Porter Gustin, Cameron Smith and Marvell Tell III today. CB Ajene Harris was forced into playing safety in Tell's stead, while senior CB Jonathan Lockett took over the nickel spot. Freshman safety Talanoa Hufanga played a starring role with a game-high 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss, but he broke his collarbone on the final defensive play of the game.
"Very sad locker room," head coach Clay Helton said after his team dropped a heartbreaker to Arizona State in the Coliseum. The Trojans are in desperate straits now, falling to 4-4 on the season and 3-3 in the Pac-12. USC's home winning streak ends at 19 after its comeback attempt was thwarted by a resilient Arizona State team. "It was one of those games where we had some mistakes and in the end you look back and there's going to be three or four plays that you look back and that's the difference in the game," Helton said. The Trojans scored 21 consecutive points to flip a 17-point first half deficit, but N'Keal Harry's 92-yard punt return for a touchdown gave the Sun Devils the lead for good.
Decisions, Decisions
Down 31-28 in the fourth quarter, Helton opted to go for it on 4th-and-1, eschewing a 38-yard game-tying field goal attempt. The Trojans were stuffed on an Aca'Cedric Ware run. "I called timeout because I told the kids we'd be aggressive in this game," Helton explained his decision. "I thought we had a good play called and we got penetration in the A-gap on a power play that worked for us earlier." Late in the fourth quarter, Helton decided to punt on 4th-and-2 instead of going for it backed up in his own end. "I knew if we could punt it down and be able to get a three-and-out we'd probably have about two and a half [minutes] and change rather than if you don't make the 4th-and-2, it's pretty much ballgame." After the game, Helton said he would make the same call again in both cases.
Jacked Up
In his collegiate debut, RS freshman QB Jack Sears started slowly, but he grew in confidence as the game progressed and finished with an impressive stat line (20/28 for 235 yards and 2 TD/0 INT). "I gotta go out and play better in the first half," Sears said. "I felt comfortable in the second half and guys never stopped believing in me. It was fun to rally with them and keep competing and we fought to the very end."
TV TricksRedshirt sophomore WR Tyler Vaughns had a unique afternoon. He became the fifth player in college football to throw a touchdown pass, catch a touchdown pass and return a punt for a touchdown in the same game since 2000. USC's game logs go back as far as 1971 and no one has done what he did today in that time. He racked up 151 all-purpose yards which does not include his 36-yard TD strike to Michael Pittman Jr.
All About the Benjamin
Arizona State got big games from both its stars, RB Eno Benjamin and WR N'Keal Harry. Benjamin controlled the game, running for 185 yards on 29 carries and scoring twice. The elusive tailback added a big number to his Pac-12-leading total of broken tackles. Meanwhile, Harry complemented the run game with his electrifying punt return and an incredible one-handed catch en route to 203 all-purpose yards.
Walking Wounded
The USC defense has been decimated by injuries, missing captains Porter Gustin, Cameron Smith and Marvell Tell III today. CB Ajene Harris was forced into playing safety in Tell's stead, while senior CB Jonathan Lockett took over the nickel spot. Freshman safety Talanoa Hufanga played a starring role with a game-high 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss, but he broke his collarbone on the final defensive play of the game.
Players Mentioned
OLB
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S
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ILB
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S
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WR
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TB
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