Social media reaction to USC’s 42-25 win over Arizona State
The USC Trojans won a very draining game against Oregon State in Week 4. They are battling injuries on their offensive line. They have big games against Washington State and Utah coming up. This Saturday’s game against Arizona State was a sandwich game. It was a trap game. It was a hangover game. It was an attritional game.
Over the course of a long season, teams won’t be able to play at the same energy level or with the same degree of enthusiasm and clarity every Saturday. This is partly because we’re dealing with 19- and 20-year-old athletes, but it’s mostly because any sport at any level is a grind. Most games might be the same (for better or worse), but some will be different. In football, injury situations and the significance of games change from week to week. One week’s big moment is the next week’s slog. Games acquire a different feel, and that’s part of the challenge of greatness.
USC did what it had to do against Arizona State, winning 42-25. We’ll certainly discuss over the next few days how significant this game’s finer details were. For now, enjoy the various Twitter reactions and comments during the Trojans’ victory:
RESTORATION
Looks like USC’s hot-knife-through-butter opening drives are back.
Even got the counter tunnel screen to work again.
— Michael Castillo (@MichaelCastFS) October 2, 2022
SHARP
Caleb Williams had six completions (on 18 attempts) in the first half last week at #OregonState.
Caleb Williams was a perfect 5 for 5 on that opening drive against #ArizonaState. https://t.co/f1QHeGQKUT
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 2, 2022
A LAPSE
All year, opposing offenses have looked for isolation matchups in the passing game on USC LB Shane Lee. That last one worked pretty well.
— RichSC (@OriginalRichSC) October 2, 2022
CALEB HAS THE ANSWERS
Caleb Williams should have been sacked dead to rights twice already. How on earth did he get out of that one?
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) October 2, 2022
BASIC MATH
Mario Williams left open in the endzone like that seems like a bad idea.
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) October 2, 2022
ART
Caleb and Mario are a pretty good combo for anyone who didn't know
— Reign of Troy (@ReignofTroy) October 2, 2022
NOTABLE
Arizona State put a good amount of pressure on Williams throughout that drive.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 2, 2022
LET'S DANCE
My goodness…
Caleb Williams with the Harry Houdini moves. pic.twitter.com/acX2JacYTC
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 2, 2022
UH-OH
#USC MLB Eric Gentry has to be helped off the field.
The #ArizonaState transfer is already wearing some sort of sleeve or brace on his left knee.
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 2, 2022
GOOD IDEA
Tyrone Taleni finally shows that #USC does indeed know that it should try to hold the edge.
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 2, 2022
REMINDER
ASU has a lot of Los Angeles kids on their roster. They are going to play their asses off against us tonight. USC had better buckle their chinstraps and start matching their intensity level or this isn’t going to be a fun evening.
— RichSC (@OriginalRichSC) October 2, 2022
FORTUNATE
Carter Brown with a 40-yd FG to cut the USC lead to 14-10.
Again a penalty proves huge as Emory Jones had a first down on a run only to have that called back by a holding on TE Ryan Morgan
— Michelle Gardner (@MGardnerSports) October 2, 2022
TIGHTEN IT UP, BOYS
X Valladay is averaging 8.5 yards per carry against USC's defense.
— Trevor Booth (@TrevorMBooth) October 2, 2022
SPECIAL
Caleb Williams looked like he was on the brink of a safety, then his floating pass looked like an easy interception. Somehow, he put it where only Jordan Addison could catch it for a first down.
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 2, 2022
A DIFFERENT BREED
Caleb Williams is not human.
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) October 2, 2022
ONE OF A KIND
Usually jump passes go toward the end zone, not out of it. pic.twitter.com/1l0zKAcHB3
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) October 2, 2022
NUANCES
Interesting play design. as Tahj Washington actually dropped back off the line of scrimmage shallow on side of Kyron Ware-Hudson, just to try to suck up the cornerback a little bit to open the window over the top of the corner.
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 2, 2022
TOWELS
never too many towel guys https://t.co/YDGk9CRtog
— Sidelines – USC (@SSN_USC) October 2, 2022
CONSISTENCY
After that touchdown, #USC has now scored touchdown on its opening 3 possessions in 4 of their 5 games (all but last week at #OSU).
— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) October 2, 2022
THE REALITY OF A LONG SEASON
Don’t see the spring in USC’s steps; they seem sluggish tonight. Hangover from OSU?
— John U Choi DDS, PhD (@jcperio1) October 2, 2022
DEFENSIVE HANGOVER
Emory Jones scrambles for the touchdown. Rough, rough night for Jaylin Smith, who did little to try to make that tackle
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 2, 2022
MORE CONTRIBUTIONS
I've been really impressed with Kyron Hudson tonight — two great grabs near the sideline for big gains. He has 2 catches for 44 yards. He stood out in spring — thought he would have a bigger role. Maybe it'll grow after a game like this. #USC
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) October 2, 2022
HALFTIME CONCERNS
USC is in a dogfight – at home – against a team whose program is in complete tatters, who fired their head coach two weeks ago, whose longtime QB now starts for LSU and whose Freshman All-American LB now plays for the Trojans.
I am at a complete loss.
— RichSC (@OriginalRichSC) October 2, 2022
PLAYING WITH FIRE
Aaaaaand there's the turnover. At an inopportune time and in a terrible place.
Pass never should have been thrown.
Now the pressure is on the USC defense.
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) October 2, 2022
BOUNCING BACK
First, there was Sam “Bam” Cunningham.
Now, Travis “Fly” Dye? https://t.co/L21iDmtyP0
— Michael Castillo (@MichaelCastFS) October 2, 2022
GRINCH ADJUSTS
Grinch decided to start sending people and it woke up the entire defense.
H2 YPP:
ASU 0.3
That's not a misprint.
— R.J. Abeytia (@RJ_Abeytia) October 2, 2022
EFFORT REWARDED
Kyron Hudson is a kid who always wanted to be a Trojan and didn’t bail out when Lincoln Riley arrived on campus. He stayed and worked hard and competed and is now part of a great WR rotation. Good for him.
— RichSC (@OriginalRichSC) October 2, 2022
