November 07, 2009 USC Defense Ensures Victory Over Arizona State
Forcing four turnovers, the #12 Trojans had a statement tomake on defense Saturday night against the Arizona State Sun Devils. Will Harris scored on a 55-yard interception return ensuring the 14-9 victory.
Just one week ago, the Trojans defense gave up 47 points to Oregon. Maybe ‘gave up’ is not what they did. In fact, the Ducks just came in and took them. The defense, however, was able to return to their once-proud ways and held off an ASU team with little offensive spunk.
USC Trojans narrowly avoided losing back-to-back games for the first time in eight years. It was a four game losing streak in 2001. The fact it avoided it this time can be attributed to a stingy defense – this week. There’s no telling what kind of a defensive game USC will play next week. They are inconsistent at best.
USC gave ASU the length of a football field in penalty yards (9 for 98 yards). But weakling ASU simply could not capitalize on USC’s stupidity. The Trojans (7-2, 4-2 Pac 10) still has their on a BCS bowl game if they can manage to win the Pac-10. Will they? Probably not.
USC QB Matt Barkley threw a 75-yard TD pass to Damian Williams which ended up being the game clinching score. But Barkley managed to allow the Sun Devils life by throwing an interception in the fourth quarter. He was only 7 of 22 for 112 yards. The rest of the USC offense played just as poor.
Knowing the offense was completely out of breath, USC’s defense stepped up and beat up on ASU for the tenth time in ten games. At the beginning of the game it looked like the USC defense was going to allow yet another opponent roll right over them. But RB Cameron Marshall fumbled on the USC 13-yard line committing their first turnover.
Arizona State managed to once again threaten in the second quarter but settled for a 21-yard Thomas Weber field goal instead of a touchdown which would have certainly put the Trojans on the ropes.
Not too soon after this occurred, the defense started dominating. Harris intercepted the Danny Sullivan pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. A play easily made after a solid read by Harris.
Harris was penalized for fifteen yards for high-stepping into the end zone but it was a forgivable penalty considering what USC allowed Oregon to do to them a week ago.
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