Trojan For Trojan: Week 11
A USC alum’s weekly take on Trojan football
Well Trojan faithful we did it!
USC has clinched a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game after a 38–24 win over the Colorado Buffalos yesterday afternoon. Similar to weeks prior, USC gave themselves a normally hefty lead early, as it was 20–0 at halftime. With a couple stalls on offense and a second half near meltdown by the defense, the Trojans escaped in Boulder despite a rallying Colorado putting up 24 points in the final two quarters. Multiple Trojans added their highlight reels, so here are my top three standout performances.
Standout Performance #1: QB Sam Darnold
Many will agree that this was Darnold’s best game of the season. The quarterback had 360 total yards (31 being rush yards), and three total touchdowns, two by air and one by land.
This was also the first clean game this season Darnold has played. No interceptions, and no fumbles lost.
Trojan fans got flashes of some classic Darnold action with these three plays:
After a breakdown in the still injury ridden offensive line, Darnold scrambled and found a way to pick up the first down with a gutsy throw to Michael Pittman Jr.
This 24-yard touchdown run by Darnold is something he hasn’t done much of this season, but something the coaching staff should definitely start encouraging more of.
At the end of the 2016 season, Darnold had 250 yards rushing, as it stands now with three games left (UCLA, Pac-12 Championship, bowl game), he only has 89 yards.
Darnold showcased the excellent vision that made him so unstoppable last year in this cutback 2 pt. conversion to tight end Erik Krommenhoek.
Trojan fans also saw something new from their quarterback, a very accurate deep ball down the sideline.
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B & C:
Darnold’s performance yesterday was the complete game that commentators and scouts have been waiting for this season, and it earned him being voted USC’s Trojan of the Game.
Standout Performance #2: RB Ronald Jones
USC’s star running back had a record setting day against Colorado. Jones moved past Reggie Bush and Mike Garrett to #6 on USC’s career rushing list with 3,293 yards.
Jones only needs 130 more yards to pass O.J. Simpson (yes that one), and move into spot #5. A feat that will likely happen with three games left, especially since the running back has had seven games this season where he has rushed for 100+ yards.
With stats like that, who would you rather have? Saquon Barkley, Bryce Love, or Jones?
Standout Performance #3: CB Ajene Harris
The Trojan corner back continued his hot streak (1 INT against Arizona last week) with two interceptions. One of which he took straight to the house right before halftime.
His second interception was a valiant effort for another pick six that unfortunately got called back as Harris was down:
Harris is proving to be a clutch performer when the Trojans need to snuff out an opposing drive.
Next week USC takes on crosstown rival UCLA in the Trojans’ final game of the regular season at the Coliseum. They will then get a bye week, which they have yet to have this season, before the Pac-12 Championship Game in Santa Clara on December 1.
Honorable mentions go out to safety Matt Lopes with a career high of five tackles, and to the USC freshmen on special teams Brandon Pili & Austin Jackson, who each had a blocked field goal. Fight On!
Dina Colunga is a proud USC alum whose words can be found at Ball Control Offense, The Unprofessionals, and Reign of Troy. Connect with her on Twitter @alwayscompete, and Instagram @dinatrojan.
