University Southern California Trojans
6-Points: Texas 37, USC 14
September 16, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Avalanche
USC dominated the first quarter, opening up a 14-3 lead and confidence was flowing on the sideline. But, Texas answered with a score, took a slight lead into halftime and then blew the Trojans away with a third quarter flurry as the offense sputtered and the defense yielded. "We lost a little bit of the momentum and doing that in a place like this, you can't have it," senior TE Tyler Petite said. "We just let it get too far and in that atmosphere, we couldn't do that." The Longhorns drew a record crowd of more than 103,000 fans.
Freshman Connection
After struggling to find any offense against Stanford, JT Daniels passed for 322 yards despite relentless pressure from the Texas front. "I saw a quarterback grow up before our eyes," head coach Clay Helton said about the freshman. "I just think he's improving with each and every game." Daniels relied heavily on WR Amon-Ra St. Brown who continued to amaze with 9 catches for 167 yards.
Not So Special
The Trojans put a huge emphasis on special teams in practice, but they did not execute well in the third phase of the game tonight. USC's two punters, Chris Tilbey and Reid Budrovich, combined to average 31 yards a boot, continuing a consistent problem this season. "We just need to get some better production out of our punters," Helton said. "We just didn't hit the ball well tonight." Even worse, the Trojans had a chance to make it a one score game in the third quarter, but Chase McGrath's 50-yard field goal was block and returned for a touchdown. "That was the opportunity to cut the momentum that they had," Helton said. "Unfortunately, we get a blocked field goal and that momentum kept going." McGrath injured his knee on the play, leaving the stadium on crutches.
Man Down
USC OLB Porter Gustin was on his way to a special game, amassing 2 sacks and 3 TFLs in a little more than a half, when he was ejected for targeting. "He plays so hard and sometimes you get caught in that position," Helton explained. "I know it's not malicious. It happens to the best of men." Gustin will be forced to sit out the first half against Washington State on Friday as well. Without him, the Trojans failed to record a sack for the remainder of the game.
Running Backwards
Texas lived in the USC backfield, recording 3 sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss. "I thought they came to the park tonight to see what the quarterback could do and put it in his hands," Helton said about the Longhorns dominant front seven. "The best friend to a quarterback is a running game, and you look up and you have -5 yards rushing, that's not ideal." The Trojans did get rushing touchdowns from Stephen Carr and Vavae Malepeai, but with the sack yardage added in, they finished in the red.
Together We Climb
Two years ago, the Trojans turned a 1-3 start into a Rose Bowl trophy, so they know that a bad September does not dash all their dreams. "It's really tough starting out 1-2, everybody will tell you that, but we have to make sure that we don't get lost in it," Petite said. "We have to take the lessons from the last two games and we have to keep building off of it." As always, Helton will remain consistent with his message to the team. "We win together and we lose together. The only way you get out of a hole is everybody doing it as one," Helton said. "It's my responsibility to make sure that we are playing better, so I'll take that to heart."
USC dominated the first quarter, opening up a 14-3 lead and confidence was flowing on the sideline. But, Texas answered with a score, took a slight lead into halftime and then blew the Trojans away with a third quarter flurry as the offense sputtered and the defense yielded. "We lost a little bit of the momentum and doing that in a place like this, you can't have it," senior TE Tyler Petite said. "We just let it get too far and in that atmosphere, we couldn't do that." The Longhorns drew a record crowd of more than 103,000 fans.
Freshman Connection
After struggling to find any offense against Stanford, JT Daniels passed for 322 yards despite relentless pressure from the Texas front. "I saw a quarterback grow up before our eyes," head coach Clay Helton said about the freshman. "I just think he's improving with each and every game." Daniels relied heavily on WR Amon-Ra St. Brown who continued to amaze with 9 catches for 167 yards.
Not So Special
The Trojans put a huge emphasis on special teams in practice, but they did not execute well in the third phase of the game tonight. USC's two punters, Chris Tilbey and Reid Budrovich, combined to average 31 yards a boot, continuing a consistent problem this season. "We just need to get some better production out of our punters," Helton said. "We just didn't hit the ball well tonight." Even worse, the Trojans had a chance to make it a one score game in the third quarter, but Chase McGrath's 50-yard field goal was block and returned for a touchdown. "That was the opportunity to cut the momentum that they had," Helton said. "Unfortunately, we get a blocked field goal and that momentum kept going." McGrath injured his knee on the play, leaving the stadium on crutches.
Man Down
USC OLB Porter Gustin was on his way to a special game, amassing 2 sacks and 3 TFLs in a little more than a half, when he was ejected for targeting. "He plays so hard and sometimes you get caught in that position," Helton explained. "I know it's not malicious. It happens to the best of men." Gustin will be forced to sit out the first half against Washington State on Friday as well. Without him, the Trojans failed to record a sack for the remainder of the game.
Running Backwards
Texas lived in the USC backfield, recording 3 sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss. "I thought they came to the park tonight to see what the quarterback could do and put it in his hands," Helton said about the Longhorns dominant front seven. "The best friend to a quarterback is a running game, and you look up and you have -5 yards rushing, that's not ideal." The Trojans did get rushing touchdowns from Stephen Carr and Vavae Malepeai, but with the sack yardage added in, they finished in the red.
Together We Climb
Two years ago, the Trojans turned a 1-3 start into a Rose Bowl trophy, so they know that a bad September does not dash all their dreams. "It's really tough starting out 1-2, everybody will tell you that, but we have to make sure that we don't get lost in it," Petite said. "We have to take the lessons from the last two games and we have to keep building off of it." As always, Helton will remain consistent with his message to the team. "We win together and we lose together. The only way you get out of a hole is everybody doing it as one," Helton said. "It's my responsibility to make sure that we are playing better, so I'll take that to heart."
Players Mentioned
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