USC at Utah
For the first time this season it seemed as though USC did more than just luck out in keeping their record without a loss. No fortunate on-side kicks or lucky tipped balls in the end zone needed for their convincing 33-17 victory over the Utes on the road this past Saturday. As Ryan Kartje wrote in his review for the Los Angeles Times; “USC’s defense came out swinging from the start and never let up. It shut down Utah’s rushing attack, holding the Utes to 119 yards on the ground. It consistently raided the pocket, making new Utah quarterbacks Cameron Rising and Jake Bentley uncomfortable while racking up three sacks. And it forced five back-breaking turnovers that ultimately proved to be the difference.” After the game USC linebacker Kana’i Mauga was quoted as saying; “All week, our guys talked about playing like this was a bar fight [and tonight] we played with a lot of viciousness and everyone was zeroed in.”
To start the game USC and Utah traded two three-and-outs and a field goal a piece before all the craziness began. The next five possessions for Utah consisted of an interception, two punts and two fumbles. In the mean time USC was scoring three TD’s. Other than the original field goal Utah scored on their 2nd possession of the game and a score gifted to them by a USC fumble returned for TD, Utah was only able to earn one score entirely on their own the rest of the game, late in the 2nd Qtr on a 9 play 5 minute 75 yard drive that resulted in a 7 yard pass into the end zone with less than a minute left to play in the half. The second half wasn’t any better for Utah, actually worse as far as the scoreboard goes since they didn’t score another point, instead throwing two more interceptions, punting once, and turning the ball over on downs twice while USC put nine more points up on the board.
USC’s QB Kedon Slovis had a solid day connecting multiple times with five different receivers, each with double digit yards and WR Tyler Vaughns and TE Erik Krommenhoek also collecting a TD a piece. Slovis did have an interception, but benefited from his defense holding Utah to a three-and-out on their possession afterwards. Instead of tailback U maybe linebacker U is more fitting after this game as linebackers Ralen Goforth and Kana’i Mauga combined for 23 tackles, six solo tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss. As the San Diego Union Tribune put it; “The USC defense, led by Ralen Goforth’s 12 tackles and Mauga’s 11 stops, harassed [Utah QB Jake] Bentley and kept Utah scoreless in the second half.”
This was a good win for the Trojans, certainly better than the first two. But take away the take aways and you’re looking at a team that also struggled to run the ball, just 93 yards-albeit against a pretty solid run defense. The passing game was decent but they did fumble the ball three times themselves and were able to get away unscathed after the Slovis pick. Yes, the Trojans are perfect in games won on the season but they are far from perfect on the field. Utah collected just as many first downs in the game as the Trojans, only trailed in total offense by 30 yards, and although had a bad day on the ground, outrushed USC.
After having their first two games cancelled and losing their opener to one of two teams they were supposed to be competing with for the PAC-12 South, Utah will be looking to make themselves relevant as they hit the road to take on Washington in Alaska Airlines Husky Stadium this next Saturday. The Trojans head back home to host Colorado in a Southern California homecoming of sorts for Buffalo Head Coach Karl Dorrell, a team that’s sitting at a surprising 2-0 and one that USC shouldn’t overlook.