USC-Oregon State: Beavers Dash Trojans' Title Hopes 27-21

For the second consecutive time, the No. 1-ranked USC Trojans went up to Corvallis and were upset by the Oregon State Beavers.

It was total domination by Mike Riley's Beavers in the first half, as they unleashed the little dynamo, Jacquizz Rodgers, who is only 5-foot-6.  Ducking and dodging behind huge linemen, Rodgers racked up 110 yards in the half. 

Riley completely turned the tables on the Trojans, who expected the ninth-ranked passing attack in the nation to go to the air.  But Riley and Rodgers had different ideas, establishing the run and then going to the pass.  Before the Trojans knew it, the score was 14-0.

Their first drive, which was set up with Rodgers running the ball, went for 60 yards and was capped by an 8-yard TD to James Rodgers, the older brother of Jacquizz.

On their second drive, Jacquizz did the honors himself. He finished off the 11-play, 62-yard drive, taking it in from 2 yards out.

With both running and passing in high gear, the Beavers then put together the drive of the game.  The Beavers drove 62 yards on 10 plays and ate up the final five minutes of the half. 

The drive ended, after two successive Trojan personal fouls put the ball on the three.  Lyle Moevao tossed the ball into the corner, and James Rodgers snatched it after a tip from a Trojan defender.

There was no time left for the Trojans to put any points on the board, and the Beavers went into the locker room with a startling 21-0 lead.

The first half statistics show just how dominating the Beavers were.  They led in every category except penalties.

First downs 16-3
Total Yards 220-75
Passing Yards 110-41 
Rushing Yards 110-34
Total Plays 39-21
Penalties 3/15-5/59
Turnovers 0-1
Third Downs 5/6-2/6
Possession: 19:46-10:14
Moevao 10/14 - Sanchez 4/7

The Trojans mounted a comeback in the second half.  They scored the first two times they had the ball on a 7-play, 62-yard drive and a 7-play, 70 yard drive.

But the Beavers continued to chew up yardage and the clock with Jacquizz Rodgers running and slipping tackles and Moevao passing to Stroughter and James Rodgers.

Johnny Hekker, the Oregon State punter, kept the Trojans bottled up deep in their own territory the rest of the way, and it paid off.

With the clock ticking away, Mark Sanchez, passing from his own end zone, threw an interception that gave the Beavers a first down on the Trojans 2-yard line.  Jacquizz Rodgers took it in from there for a 27-14 lead.  Mark Sehnem missed the extra point.

Sanchez came right back, however, to lead the Trojans down the field on a 4-play, 40-yard drive that ended in a 14-yard TD strike to Patrick Turner.

But time would run out for the Trojans, and the Beavers had done it once again. 

They stunned the No. 1 Trojans, 27-21. In effect, they ended any hope the Trojans had for another national title.

To make matters worse, All-American linebacker Rey Maualuga was assisted from the field with a leg injury late in the fourth quarter.

The Beavers still led in every statistical category at the end of game except one: Passing Yards.  Sanchez outgained Moevao, 227-167.  However, Sanchez threw the interception that led to the Beavers' final score.