USC football: A fan’s look back at the Oregon State game

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If USC sought revenge Saturday night against Oregon State for last season’s loss in Corvallis, in the end the Trojans experienced something else starting with an r: RELIEF.

With its offense enjoying its most productive output since the season opener, USC got out of the Coliseum with a 42-36 victory over the determined Beavers, who moved the ball with startling efficiency against the USC defense, especially in the second half.

The 36 points were the most allowed by USC at home since Fresno State scored 42 in 2005. USC won that game, 50-42, and there were times Saturday when it appeared USC might need another 50-point effort to win.

Oregon State scored four touchdowns in the second half, a week after Notre Dame scored three touchdowns in the final 30 minutes against USC. The Trojans have given up 63 points the last two games after allowing 43 in the season’s first five games.

“They spread us out when we played man to man and they just picked away,” safety Taylor Mays said of the Beavers. “It was frustrating.”

Credit must be given to Notre Dame and Oregon State, the two best offenses USC has seen this season. But still, something seems amiss with the defense. Last week, USC nearly let a 20-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter. On Saturday, USC led, 42-23, with 14 minutes left after Damian Williams returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown. But the Beavers scored the next 13 points to get within six and suddenly fans were having flashbacks to Stanford 2007.
But USC never gave Oregon State the ball back, taking the final 5:41 off the clock. The Trojans twice converted on third down on that last drive, Allen Bradford rushing for a yard on third and one from the USC 36 and Matt Barkley hitting Williams for a seven-yard gain on third and two from the USC 45.

Bradford had a career-best game, gaining 147 yards in 15 carries. He had two touchdown runs, including a 43-yarder in which his power and speed were on full display. But my favorite Bradford run of the game came on the last drive when, on a second-and-seven play from the Beavers’ 45, he ran toward the sideline for a 10-yard gain. But instead of going out of bounds, he purposely slid down, inbounds, to keep the clock rolling. It showed great game awareness and capped a sensational night for the fourth-year junior, who has waited patiently for his chance to play.

The Trojans were outgained, 482 yards to 429, but their offense was terrific. Ronald Johnson, who missed the first five games with a broken collarbone, returned to the starting lineup and had six receptions for 99 yards. His full-out stretch to make a 22-yard catch for a touchdown in the second quarter was one of the signature plays of the season. Williams also had six catches, for 58 yards, along with his punt-return score.

Joe McKnight averaged nearly six yards on his 11 carries. And when he cut his hand Bradford stepped in and cut up the Beavers. Whether Bradford should start ahead of McKnight isn’t really important. USC will need both backs the rest of the way.

It’s rare that a Pete Carroll defense gives up nearly 500 yards, but this is turning into a rare season in college football, where no one is standing out as the clear No. 1 team. Look at some other games Saturday. Unbeaten Alabama didn’t score a touchdown and needed a blocked field goal on the final play of the game to win at home against Tennessee. Unbeaten Iowa scored on the final play to beat Michigan State. Unbeaten Florida, the defending national champion, had another less-than-impressive victory, beating Mississippi State by 10. Tim Tebow had two passes intercepted and returned for touchdowns.

The point is, it’s about winning and USC has done so six times in seven games. The loss came when Barkley didn’t play at Washington because of a shoulder injury. If Barkley is getting too much hype for a freshman, you can’t deny him this: He’s 6-0.

Barkley has won road games at Ohio State, California and Notre Dame, but he and the Trojans figure to have their most difficult game of the season next week at Oregon. The Ducks lead the Pac-10 at 4-0 and have won six in a row since their opening-game debacle at Boise State. Autzen Stadium will be rocking.

For USC, the game is the difference between playing in the Rose Bowl (either on Jan. 1 or on Jan. 7 in the national championship game) and the Holiday Bowl or the Sun Bowl. The Trojans’ loss at Washington has left them with no margin for error in the conference.

USC has lost its last three games in the state of Oregon (two to the Beavers, one to the Ducks) and next week would be as good a time as any to end that skid.

Trick or treat on Halloween night? The Trojans just hope their bag contains a victory.

-- Hans Tesselaar