University Southern California Trojans
6-Points: USC 24, Arizona 20
September 30, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Trojans picked up their first road win of the season.
Win and Learn
USC accomplished its primary goal for the trip, win a crucial road game in the Pac-12 South. With that said, the Trojans made a comfortable night uneasy by allowing 20 unanswered points after taking a 24-0 lead. "The best thing that could ever happen to you is that you go get a road win and realize there is more meat left on the bone," said head coach Clay Helton. The post-game locker room was subdued. "We do have that sour taste in our mouth that we didn't finish," said DL Jay Tufele. "A win's a win, but we have to come back even harder."
Sloppy Saturday
The Trojans committed 18 penalties and coughed the ball up three times to keep Arizona alive. "It's a game that we have to learn from," said freshman QB JT Daniels. "That's the nicest way I can say it. I'm not happy with a lot of things that I did." Daniels finished the night 16/24 for 197 yards. "Our guys are realists," Helton said. "We had a game that we had under control and we let a team back in."
Ware 'Em Out
For the third consecutive time against Arizona, senior RB Aca'Cedric Ware topped 100 yards rushing. "I guess this is my game," Ware said. "I don't know what it is. It's just me, doing what I do, running behind that big o-line." After being limited by a knee injury last week, Ware ran for a career-high 173 yards and 2 touchdowns. "The run game was a plus tonight," Helton said. "Ced Ware, for the third year in a row, was dynamic against this team and had an unbelievable night."
Tight On Tate
Arizona came into the game as the Pac-12's top ground attack, but the USC defense stymied QB Khalil Tate (13 carries for 38 yards) and the conference's leading rusher, RB J.J. Taylor (18 carries for 50 yards). "We came into the game to stop the run," Helton explained. "We said if we out rushed our opponent that we'd win the game." The Wildcats never broke a run longer than 10 yards and averaged 2.6 yards per carry.
Goal Line Delay
After another late turnover, the USC defense was backed up inside its own 5-yard line and proceeded to hold the Wildcats from scoring for seven consecutive plays before yielding. "It was amazing," Tufele said about the group's effort. "But at the end of the day, we came up short on fourth down and that really hurt the most." While the Trojans did eventually give up the score, forcing the extra plays served a crucial purpose. "They fought their butts off," Helton praised his defense. "It took enough time off the clock where once you got the onside kick, the game was over."
Bye For Now
For the first time since 2016, USC has a bye this week. First and foremost, the Trojans will focus on getting healthy as LB John Houston Jr. (head/neck) and OLB Porter Gustin (ankle) were two of several players unable to finish the game. USC will also be delivered some "brutal honest truth" after watching the game film together, Helton said. In the big picture, the Trojans await a showdown with undefeated Colorado at the Coliseum. "We control our own destiny right now," Helton said. "Pac-12 South wins are critical."
USC accomplished its primary goal for the trip, win a crucial road game in the Pac-12 South. With that said, the Trojans made a comfortable night uneasy by allowing 20 unanswered points after taking a 24-0 lead. "The best thing that could ever happen to you is that you go get a road win and realize there is more meat left on the bone," said head coach Clay Helton. The post-game locker room was subdued. "We do have that sour taste in our mouth that we didn't finish," said DL Jay Tufele. "A win's a win, but we have to come back even harder."
Sloppy Saturday
The Trojans committed 18 penalties and coughed the ball up three times to keep Arizona alive. "It's a game that we have to learn from," said freshman QB JT Daniels. "That's the nicest way I can say it. I'm not happy with a lot of things that I did." Daniels finished the night 16/24 for 197 yards. "Our guys are realists," Helton said. "We had a game that we had under control and we let a team back in."
Ware 'Em OutFor the third consecutive time against Arizona, senior RB Aca'Cedric Ware topped 100 yards rushing. "I guess this is my game," Ware said. "I don't know what it is. It's just me, doing what I do, running behind that big o-line." After being limited by a knee injury last week, Ware ran for a career-high 173 yards and 2 touchdowns. "The run game was a plus tonight," Helton said. "Ced Ware, for the third year in a row, was dynamic against this team and had an unbelievable night."
Tight On Tate
Arizona came into the game as the Pac-12's top ground attack, but the USC defense stymied QB Khalil Tate (13 carries for 38 yards) and the conference's leading rusher, RB J.J. Taylor (18 carries for 50 yards). "We came into the game to stop the run," Helton explained. "We said if we out rushed our opponent that we'd win the game." The Wildcats never broke a run longer than 10 yards and averaged 2.6 yards per carry.
Goal Line Delay
After another late turnover, the USC defense was backed up inside its own 5-yard line and proceeded to hold the Wildcats from scoring for seven consecutive plays before yielding. "It was amazing," Tufele said about the group's effort. "But at the end of the day, we came up short on fourth down and that really hurt the most." While the Trojans did eventually give up the score, forcing the extra plays served a crucial purpose. "They fought their butts off," Helton praised his defense. "It took enough time off the clock where once you got the onside kick, the game was over."
Bye For Now
For the first time since 2016, USC has a bye this week. First and foremost, the Trojans will focus on getting healthy as LB John Houston Jr. (head/neck) and OLB Porter Gustin (ankle) were two of several players unable to finish the game. USC will also be delivered some "brutal honest truth" after watching the game film together, Helton said. In the big picture, the Trojans await a showdown with undefeated Colorado at the Coliseum. "We control our own destiny right now," Helton said. "Pac-12 South wins are critical."
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