Notable USC quotes from Week 5 victory over Arizona State
The USC Trojans handled the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday night. It wasn’t pretty in terms of a complete game. The Trojans showed several weaknesses, as one might readily expect after a draining, taxing game against Oregon State the week before.
The unquestionably good news is that Caleb Williams got back in the saddle and dazzled with his improvisational playmaking skills. USC was able to throw the ball for first downs, big plays, and another 40-plus-point performance. That’s how it should be.
The bad news was that the defense’s containment and its ability to set the edge were not up to par, certainly not in the first half. Arizona State entered the second half trailing by only four points. At least the Trojans responded well in the second half and put the game to bed midway through the fourth quarter.
Here’s what USC coaches and players had to say about the win, which moves the Trojans to 5-0 in 2022:
BLACK MAGIC
“It’s black magic,” Travis Dye says of Caleb Williams ability to escape pressure.
“I don’t understand it either!”
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) October 2, 2022
FORMER TEAM
USC ILB Eric Gentry said “it was weird” playing against his old team, but he felt like he settled down in the second half.
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) October 2, 2022
RILEY'S BLEAK RESPONSE
Lincoln Riley on USC’s offensive line performance, “I thought we were ok.”
He added that they knew ASU’s front would be a challenge.
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) October 2, 2022
LOOKING AHEAD
Lincoln Riley was asked if Caleb Williams is ready to face the next two defenses USC will face.
“He’s ready,” Riley said simply.
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) October 2, 2022
CALEB
Caleb Williams on his approach to tonight’s game compared to last week again Oregon State, “Same mindset as always. Some things just don’t go your way sometimes.”
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) October 2, 2022
ANOTHER SLOW FIRST HALF
Lincoln Riley: “We didn’t play overall the way we needed to in the first half…It wasn’t quite us.”
USC’s head coach credited his team for how they responded in the second half.
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) October 2, 2022
AGUANO PRAISES CALEB
Aguano: Caleb Williams “has a lot of moxie”
— Brad Denny (@BDenny29) October 2, 2022
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE BY CALEB
Lincoln Riley on Caleb Williams' performance: "Minimal mistakes. Did a great job in some of the scramble situations. Again got us out of trouble a couple of times. He's being able to evade people in the pocket the last two weeks has been really impressive."
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 2, 2022
TRAVIS DYE DANCING
Travis Dye: "I was trying to make it on the big board"
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 2, 2022
DAVI NICHOL
#USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley said it was an emotional week knowing this game was dedicated to coach Dave Nichol, but his family received a game ball after the game.
— Jack Smith 🎙 (@jacksmithpxp) October 2, 2022
