Oct 03, 2009 - USC Trojans dominates California Bears, delivers on emotional wave
Oct 03, 2009
USC's Trojans defense dominated California. The ground gamewas sickness in serious buffet-sized servings. Matt Barkley managed the Trojans game plan while connecting on better than 50% of his pass attempts. But the USC story of the week was all about Stafon Johnson and the devastating injury he suffered in the weight room. Given the fragility of his health, his battle for breath, and his inability to speak, how could he have won this game for Trojans Nation? Simply, he willed them to win.
The Trojans played a much more disciplined game this time around by slashing their penalties by 30% and the yardage they gave up with those penalties by 1/2 when compared to their victory from a week ago.
USC hung 457 total yards on California – a punishing performance by any measureable standard. Freshman quarterback Matt Barkley played well given his level of college experience. He did little more than manage this football game. He was a bit inconsistent while connecting on 20 of 35 passing for 283 yards. With an average of better than 14 yards per completion, his performance Saturday is acceptable. Barkley did cough up the ball once by throwing an interception, however.
The USC Trojans offensive work horse was Joe McKnight. In the locker room and on the grid iron, players carry each other – shouldering their teammates' weaknesses as their own. Sports nation talked all week about Stafon Johnson missing this game. He didn't miss this game. Stafon was on the bus, in the locker room, and he was definitely in Joe McKnight. With each one of the 119 yards McKnight ran for Saturday night, he carried Johnson with him – or at least it seemed that way. Early on in this contest did McKnight show the world Johnson made this trip with his 38 yard trounce into the end zone. Joe McKnight all by himself is an extremely talented back with a God-given gift to carry the football. But his ability to allow Stafon Johnson on the field with him makes him super human.
Pete Carroll was plenty satisfied with the performance of his Trojans against Cal – or so he Tweets anyway. He has become quite famous for airing his thoughts via his Twitter account. He discusses issues about his football plans to gain the attention of blue-chip recruits across the nation to inviting some rather high-profile 'Tweets' such as Will Ferrel. It's also public knowledge Coach Carroll searches YouTube for inspirational videos. It is now safe to say he must look no further than his own group of student-athletes for that inspiration. Stafon Johnson, just days ago fighting for his life, willed the (PAC- 10) team to win.
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