The 12th-ranked USC Trojans needed just two big
plays -- Will Harris' 55-yard interception return for a touchdown and Damian
Williams' 75-yard score on a screen -- to hold off Arizona State, 14-9.
The Trojans (7-2, 4-2 Pac-10) suffered an embarrassing 27-point setback to
Oregon last week and nearly dropped two straight conference games. Harris
ended ASU's comeback bid by intercepting Brock Osweiler's Hail Mary pass at
the end of regulation.
"Close doesn't count anymore. We had a chance to win the football game," said
ASU head coach Dennis Erickson.
Joe McKnight ran for 78 yards on 15 carries, while Matt Barkley was an
ineffective 6-for-21 for 37 yards after subtracting the touchdown pass to
Williams, who left the game early with an ankle injury.
Osweiler replaced an ineffective Danny Sullivan after halftime and finished
with 153 yards and a touchdown on 11-of-27 throws for ASU (4-5, 2-4), which
has dropped three straight.
Chris McGaha caught nine passes for 118 yards and a score in the team's 10th
straight loss to its conference rival.
The score was 14-9 in favor of USC heading to the fourth, and Clint Floyd's
highlight-reel interception with 10 minutes left in the game set up ASU in
enemy territory. But a holding penalty on first down moved the ball back to
the USC 46-yard line, and three straight incompletions forced a punt.
After stagnant drives from both clubs, the Sun Devils took over at their own
22 with 1:56 remaining and no timeouts left.
Another holding penalty hurt the slow-moving drive, though Jamal Miles moved
the chains with a seven-yard grab on 4th-and-6 from the 39.
McGaha was tackled two plays later just short of the first down, and ASU had
to stop the clock with seven seconds left. The only option was a bomb from the
USC 45, and there were no ASU receivers in the vicinity of Osweiler's heave.
ASU had the best chance to score in the opening quarter, but Cameron Marshall
fumbled in the red zone on the game's opening drive.
USC couldn't turn a turnover into points early in the second, as Jordan
Congdon was short on a 47-yard field goal attempt.
Thomas Weber opened the scoring for ASU when his 21-yard boot capped a 12-
play, 58-yard drive with under five minutes to go in the second quarter.
USC turned the ball over on downs in ASU territory, but Harris intercepted a
poor pass from Sullivan and took it 55 yards the other way to put USC on top.
"Coach [Pete] Carroll called man-to-man. It was empty, so I knew it was going
to be quick. I hopped it and that's exactly what happened," recalled Harris.
On the second play of the third quarter, Williams caught a screen pass in the
right flat, reversed field and sprinted down the left sideline with a convoy
of blockers for a 75-yard touchdown.
Later in the frame, Osweiler and McGaha hooked up for a 23-yard score. The
extra point was blocked, however, keeping it 14-9 heading to the fourth.
Game Notes
The USC defense had just three interceptions on the year coming into the
game...Carroll has never lost a game in November (28-0)...Sullivan finished
12-of-23 for 113 yards with two interceptions in the first half...Marshall
led ASU's rushing attack with 42 yards on 16 carries...Allen Bradford gained
67 yards on 14 carries for USC, which converted 2-of-13 third down tries.
©2009 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
