Cliff: USC game/pregame thread Comments
LOS ANGELES – Stepping off the airplane in Burbank was wonderful. Low 70s temperatures, blues skies and it felt good to be back in Southern California.
Then the traffic hit. It took a little more than an hour to travel 15 miles from Burbank to south of downtown to the Memorial Coliseum. Hey, not bad for this town.
Being here brings back memories. The first time I attended anything here was a Metallica, Korn, Kid Rock, System of a Down and Powerman 5000 concert circa 2000.
Between Korn and Metallica during a too long of a wait, the biggest food/beer cup fight ever erupted. Hot dogs, nachos and Bud Light (at least I hope that was the fluid in the plastic cups) engulfed the south side of the stadium, and I was too low in the seating arrangements. It wasn’t a pretty sight.
Anyway, now for the game. Check back throughout the game and after for updates. Feel free to comment or ask questions.
The California budget crunch hit USC. I just got handed a program for the game. It’s from Sept. 26 against Washington State. I guess they are just getting rid of the extras and figured it was a Northwest school.
Of course, the mistake was discovered. My program got traded out for the correct one. It was funny for a while.
Here are some travel roster updates. As reported Thursday, WR Geno Munoz is out with a hip-flexor injury. DT Castro Masaniai didn’t come due to some unnamed dings. Tonu Tumalealifano took his place.
Slim Shady is still popular. He’s the 8-Mile song is the USC intro video, just like OSU’s.
First quarter
First big break goes to USC on OSU’s second drive. WR James Rodgers fumbles for the first time. DE Wes Horton stripped him and DE Everson Griffen recovers. Three plays later, USC scores on a Matt Barkley pass to Anthony McCoy. USC 7, OSU 0, 9:49.
That was the fourth time the Beavers fumbled this season, and the first time they lost one.
Beavers move the ball well, but a PI call stalls the drive. They settle with a 48-yard Justin Kahut FG. Damola Adeniji was impressive on the drive. USC 7, OSU 3, 5:06 left.
Nice pick by CB James Dockery on USC’s first play on the next drive. That was the first of his career. They Beavers get another 48-yard FG out it. USC 7, OSU 6, 1:57.
Reserve DT Mitchel Hunt went down holding his right knee. He needed help off the field.
USC’s Stafon Johnson (throat) makes an appearance in the sky boxes to rally the troops between quarters.
Second quarter
USC finished a drive started in the first quarter with a 22-yard pass to Ronald Johnson. Nice reception laying out for it. USC 14, OSU 6, 12:53.
RB Ryan McCants makes an appearance. The pass was to him, but it was broken up. Jacquizz Rodgers has a right ankle issue and got re-taped, which was the reason for the change.
A fine drive ends with a missed 22-yard FG. Why is it Kahut misses the close ones, but makes the long ones?
The Beavers knew they had to play a perfect game to win this one. On that drive RB Jovan Stevenson dropped a probable TD and Kahut missed. And James Rodgers fumbled for the first time ever, earlier in the game. Not good.
And now an INT by David Pa’aluhi was nullified when Keaton Kristick called for roughing the passer. That turns into another TD. USC 21-6, 2:15 left.
Beavers put a 33-yard FG with five seconds left. USC 21-9. TE Joe Halahuni came up big on that drive.
Third quarter
Quizz returned, and still hustling. He recovers a Halahuni fumble way down field. He catches a 6-yard TD pass with 10:26 left in the third to make it interesting. USC leads 21-16
USC marches back with an easy 70-yard TD drive. USC leads 28-16, 6:34.
Beavers keep making it interesting with a 78-yard drive, capped off with a 15-yard TD pass from Sean Canfield to Adeniji. USC leads 28-23, 3:18.
For all the good things the offense is doing, the defense can’t stop USC any more. Another quick TD score makes it 35-23, 0:42 left.
If OSU hopes to have a chance, the defense has to make a few stops. It’s that simple the offense is putting up numbers.
Fourth quarter
OK, game over. USC returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown to open the fourth quarter. It’s 41-23.
Nice Jordan Poyer 70-yard to set up a 7-yard Canfield to James Rodgers TD. Yes, he his helmet was ripped off with no call. It’s Pac-10 refs for you. I’m sure you’ll read a commentary from co-worker Brooks Hatch soon.
It’s 42-29 after missing the 2-point conversion with 12:07. The offense is really doing a good job. It’s really up to the defense to do something here.
S Lance Mitchell picks off a pass. We’ll see if OSU can rally. I’m going down to the field soon.
![[Post to Twitter]](http://cliffkirkpatrick.mvourtown.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
Related posts:
