Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
Those expecting USC to take out frustrations on Arizona State on Saturday night were left wanting as the Trojans turned in another lackluster performance.
The Trojans slipped the game Sun Devils 14-9 despite recording only 12 first downs and 258 total yards.
USC scored only one offensive touchdown as quarterback Matt Barkley struggled. And that TD was short pass that Damian Williams transformed into a 75-yard touchdown. The other USC TD came on a Will Harris interception return.
Barkley completed only 7 of 22 passes for 112 yards with an interception.
In fact, he may have been the second-best true freshman quarterback on the field.
With the Trojans ahead 14-3 early in the third quarter, Dennis Erickson yanked starting quarterback Danny Sullivan, who tossed two interceptions, and replaced him with freshman Brock Osweiler. Osweiler led a touchdown drive and completed 11 for 27 for 153 yards and the 23-yard score. He also threw one pick. Arizona State had four turnovers; USC had one.
It's unlikely either team walks away terribly happy.
USC (7-2, 4-2) next plays host to Stanford, which is fresh off beating the Oregon team that whipped the Trojans. Arizona State (4-5, 2-4) will visit those Ducks.
Those expecting USC to take out frustrations on Arizona State on Saturday night were left wanting as the Trojans turned in another lackluster performance.
The Trojans slipped the game Sun Devils 14-9 despite recording only 12 first downs and 258 total yards.
USC scored only one offensive touchdown as quarterback Matt Barkley struggled. And that TD was short pass that Damian Williams transformed into a 75-yard touchdown. The other USC TD came on a Will Harris interception return.
Barkley completed only 7 of 22 passes for 112 yards with an interception.
In fact, he may have been the second-best true freshman quarterback on the field.
With the Trojans ahead 14-3 early in the third quarter, Dennis Erickson yanked starting quarterback Danny Sullivan, who tossed two interceptions, and replaced him with freshman Brock Osweiler. Osweiler led a touchdown drive and completed 11 for 27 for 153 yards and the 23-yard score. He also threw one pick. Arizona State had four turnovers; USC had one.
It's unlikely either team walks away terribly happy.
USC (7-2, 4-2) next plays host to Stanford, which is fresh off beating the Oregon team that whipped the Trojans. Arizona State (4-5, 2-4) will visit those Ducks.
Sort comments by: Most Recent | First Posted
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-10. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
PAC-10 SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 11/21
Final Arizona State 13 UCLA 23 Final 19 Oregon State 42 Washington State 10 Final 25 California 34 17 Stanford 28 Final/2OT 11 Oregon 44 Arizona 41
