Visual Recap: USC at Arizona
Aubrey Kragen
11/15/2020
For the second week in a row, USC's game came down to the wire.
For the second week in a row, USC came out on top.
The Trojans started strong in their first road test of the season. Wildcats QB Grant Gunnell's first pass attempt was nearly picked off by Arizona native Isaiah Pola-Mao, and just a few plays later, USC safety Talanoa Hufanga sealed the deal with an interception. That set up a Markese Stepp touchdown to put the Trojans up early.
From there, USC and Arizona traded scores all the way up until the fourth quarter, when the Wildcats kicked a field goal to take a 23-20 lead.
USC answered with just 3:30 left in the game. Kedon Slovis hit tight end Erik Krommenhoek for the senior's first career TD to put the Trojans up 27-23.
Arizona showed some fight, coming back and scoring a TD to go up 30-27 with 1:35 left in the game.
But the Trojans showed no panic.
Slovis marched the team 75 yards down the field and senior RB Vavae Malepeai punched in an 8-yard rush TD with 25 seconds left to retake the lead.
Malepeai, Stepp and Stephen Carr all got into the end zone, making it the first USC game since 2015 that three different Trojan tailbacks scored rushing touchdowns.
Stepp finished the game with 82 yards on the ground, while Carr added 81. Malepeai had 7 on the ground plus 20 through the air.
Just like last week, USC's defense had to make one final stand after its offense put the team back on top late.
The Wildcats got one first down on their final drive, but sophomore OLB Drake Jackson broke through on the next play for his second sack of the game to back them up. That left the Wildcats with one final play, which they couldn't convert. USC won the game 34-30.
Drake Jackson is that next great USC DL that’s going to be playing in Sunday’s for a long time ?? I see you young 99
— Antwaun Woods Sr. (@AntwaunWoods_) November 15, 2020
The Trojans made history with their win. The wins against ASU and Arizona marked the first time that USC has ever captured back-to-back contests with game-winning scores in the final 2 minutes.
Sophomore QB Kedon Slovis ended up completing 69.8 percent of his passes for 325 yards and 1 touchdown.
Wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown notched 113 yards — his fifth 100-yard game in the last six games.
Redshirt freshman John Jackson III and true freshman Gary Bryant Jr. also grabbed their first career catches.
WATCH THE FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS!
USC is now 2-0 on the season heading in to next week's matchup at Utah, whose first two games were canceled.
USC will take on Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 pm PT. Fans can watch on ESPN.
