Joe McKnight Comes Through For USC

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

While all the accolades will go to Matt Barkley mainly because he is the first ever true freshman to start at quarterback for the Trojans and Pete Carroll’s hype-machine has built him into a legend, it was Joe McKnight who willed USC to an 18-15 win over Ohio State.

Although the USC speedster didn’t put up Heisman numbers, he certainly gave the Trojans what they needed when it counted.

With the Buckeyes defense putting eight players in the box most of the night, they stuffed the USC running game which averaged less than three yards per carry in 40 attempts.  After rushing for 342 yards against San Jose State, the Trojan ground game could only manage a paltry 118 yards tonight.

But McKnight accounted for 60 of those yards, 33 of them on the Trojans winning 95-yard march in the closing minutes.  He also had the key reception of the night.  

With a third-and-nine from the Trojans 16-yard line, McKnight caught a short pass over the middle and ripped off a 21-yard gain.  It was lights out from there.

The drive actually started at the USC 14.  But after a 4-yard sack and a delay of game penalty, the Trojans were facing a second-and-19 from their own five when McKnight slashed for an 11-yard gain and followed that up with his 21-yard catch-and-run.

On what will forever be known in Trojan lore as “The Drive,” Matt Barkley -  shoulder injury and all - also threw a 26-yard completion to Anthony McCoy and an eight-yard toss to Damian Williams on another third-and-nine.  

But it was McKnight who got the tough yards and capped off the scoring, taking a short hitch and threading his way into the end zone for a two-point conversion following Stafon Johnson’s second TD of the night.  

A lot of fans were surprised by the closeness of the game, but it was that kind of day for the Pac-10.  Not only did USC have a tough time with Ohio State, but Oregon edged out Purdue 38-36 on a blocked PAT, and UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15 on a fourth-quarter goal-line stand.  Another USC opponent, Notre Dame, lost in the closing seconds to Michigan at the Big House, 38-34.

And hats of to last week’s opponent, the San Jose State Spartans, who gave the Utes one heck of a game.  They battled them to a seven-seven tie through three quarters before losing to No. 17 Utah 24-14.

While this one was extremely rough for the Trojans, next week may just be the trap game of the season.  The Trojans must travel for the second consecutive week, this time to Washington, where they will battle the Huskies.  

Guided by two of Pete Carroll’s former assistants, head coach Steve Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Nick Holt, the Huskies will be ready and waiting for the Trojans.  Count on it.

As for the health of Barkley’s shoulder that is still to be determined by the medical staff and the legend-makers.  Meanwhile, Aaron Corp waits in the wings, eating his heart out, wondering if he will ever get another shot.

By the way, where is that hype-machine and the legend-makers when Joe McKnight can use a huge boost?  Well, I guess I will just have to start it.  MC KNIGHT FOR HEISMAN!

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