USC vs. ASU Football: Trojans Fear the Fork in 43-22 Loss

Right from the start, the USC Trojans looked out of sync.

Wide open passes for touchdowns overthrown or dropped. Uncharacteristic—and costly—personal fouls that moved Arizona State down the field in giant strides. Unusual, overly-conservative play calling that included runs up the middle for three yards on third and 15 not once, but twice in a row.

The whole team just wasn't clicking.

A second-quarter desert dust storm that swirled around the boisterous and unfriendly confines of Sun Devil Stadium seemed to blow onto the field and dry up the scant bits of life that USC brought with them to Tempe in their bid for a 12 straight victory over ASU.

But major infractions and four turnovers and dropped balls and poor passing and inexplicable play-calling and the searing defensive pressure that ASU brought to bear on USC all proved to be too much for the roller coaster Trojans as they fell behind ASU 14-3 early and never really recovered in a humiliating 43-22 loss.

It seemed like a turning point for the Trojans might have been a fourth and two in the second quarter when QB Matt Barkley passed to all-world receiver Robert Woods for an impressive first down at midfield. Shortly thereafter, talented but hotheaded ASU linebacker Vontaze Burfict was flagged for a personal foul, and Barkley had numerous tries to the end zone but simply could not capitalize, his two touchdown pass attempts to Woods from inside the 10-yard line being knocked away by spirited ASU defenders.

It’s not as if USC didn’t have their fair share of opportunities.

Troy got another shot in the arm when Nickell Robey returned an ASU punt 44 yards to the ASU 12, but two plays later Barkley threw only his second interception of the season directly into Burfict’s waiting hands for a 38 yard return to squash another USC scoring opportunity.

Fighting like Trojans, USC started the second half strong and came back to take their first lead of the game at 22-21 in the third quarter.

The Trojans seemed to disintegrate soon after, and the rest of the game for USC was a long spiral down into ineffective, error-prone, turnover-filled football. More than anything, the Trojans defeated themselves in losing by three touchdowns as ASU piled over 40 points on their opponent in a fourth quarter USC meltdown.

Long Trojan drives were stalled by a Tyler fumble, another Barkley interception (this one for a pick-six), and a Barkley fumble, as well as more senseless late-hit and false start penalties.

For 11 years, USC has played mistake-free, well-planned, consistent, positive-gain football against a sloppy, ill-prepared, mistake-soaked, turnover-happy Sun Devil team, but on this, the 12 night, the two teams switched hats.