USC offense overcomes major injuries to score big, defeat Arizona in Wild West shootout
Andrew Voorhees was out.
Jordan Addison was out.
Mario Williams was out.
Bobby Haskins got hurt in the second half.
We knew that Addison would not play for USC, but the Vorheeds and Mario Williams absences from this game were surprising developments, relative to the past week of injury speculation, Lincoln Riley remarks, and general expectations of who would be able to play against Arizona.
USC was noticeably shorthanded, and beyond that, the offensive line involved a significant reshuffle. Multiple players had to switch positions. Mason Murphy was thrown into the fire at right tackle.
Meanwhile, the USC defense had tons of injuries in its own right.
USC pulled through. Let’s go through the night in Tucson and relive what happened in a 45-37 victory:
VORHEES OUT
I have to imagine #USC will kick RG and captain Justin Dedich to left guard. He played there when Vorhees kicked to left tackle late last year https://t.co/mto1xiHApW
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) October 29, 2022
RESHUFFLED O-LINE
Interesting. Looks like Mason Murphy is getting first team reps at RT and Jonah Monheim has kicked to RG #USC
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) October 29, 2022
SETTING SOMETHING UP
#USC just put two wide receivers and a running back…all beside Caleb Williams in a weird looking shotgun formation.
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 29, 2022
NEXT MAN UP
Kyle Ford has two receptions this drive, matching his total from the first even games. Second one was a doozy
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 29, 2022
ANNOYING
I seemingly write this every week: Brenden Rice has to catch that ball.
— RichSC (@OriginalRichSC) October 29, 2022
CONCERNING
Still no Mario Williams for the Trojans as USC starts its second offensive drive. He's on the sideline in uniform but does not have a helmet with him.
— Erik McKinney (@ErikTMcKinney) October 29, 2022
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Brenden Rice is now heading to the USC locker room with trainers
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 29, 2022
DEPTH
Terrell Bynum become the fifth different receiver to catch a Caleb Williams' pass today.
Williams already has 100 yards passing on 9 of 11.
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 29, 2022
SLEEK RALEEK
Raleek Brown's speed is so hard to deal with.
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) October 29, 2022
VIDEO
TOUCHDOWN RALEEK BROWN❕🙌🏼#USC Leads Arizona 10-7 with 2:57 left in 1st Qtr @On3USC #FightOn✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/cWKtJh9oPr
— Scott Schrader (@Scott_Schrader) October 29, 2022
STEPPING UP
Tahj Washington had 5 catches for 66 yards in the first quarter.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 29, 2022
BACK IN THE GAME AND BOUNCING BACK
Brenden Rice had receptions on third-and-4 and third-and-goal to help produce that TD drive for #USC.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 29, 2022
RICE IS COOKING
1️⃣st TD of the season for @BrendenRice gives the Trojans the lead again!
📺: @Pac12Network
📱: https://t.co/WTEu0S6IIQ pic.twitter.com/T8MVzBs46Q— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) October 30, 2022
MONEY
#USC RB Travis Dye is pretty good at this third-and-short thing.
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 30, 2022
83 PERCENT SOUNDS GOOD
#USC being 10/12 on third down and one this season is a refreshing change from past seasons.
— Jack Smith 🎙 (@jacksmithpxp) October 30, 2022
LEARNING ON THE JOB
Mason Murphy hold erases a Terrell Bynum TD.
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 30, 2022
WRONG TURN
#USC takes a deep shot to CJ Williams on second-and-20, which didn't seem like the smartest play call considering where USC was on the field.
Now after a five-yard completion, they are trying a 56-yard field goal.
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 30, 2022
DETAILS
Rewatched the Mason Murphy holding, which was against Hunter Echols, and it was just a completely lazy/exhaustion play.
Murphy is standing straight up and just grabs Echols by the neck of the pads because he felt like the play was over. #TeachingMoment
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 30, 2022
RECEIVERS GETTING IT DONE
Tahj Washington sliding TD at the goal line. Without Jordan Addison and Mario Williams, USC's receivers have really stepped up today. Trojans up 24-16
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 30, 2022
TIGHT WINDOW
First touchdown of the 2nd half goes to @tahj_washington!
📺: @Pac12Network
📱: https://t.co/WTEu0S6IIQ pic.twitter.com/PG9VVjqUz7— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) October 30, 2022
AGAIN
Catch. The. Ball.
That was a seed by Caleb Wiliams!
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 30, 2022
MISSING FROM 56 IS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT MISSING FROM 39 IS
Caleb Williams' pass was batted down on third-and-5. Denis Lynch's FG was no good from 39 yards. Not a good day for Lynch. #USC's lead sits at 24-16 with 6:08 remaining here in the third.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 30, 2022
NUMBERS
Tahj Washington now has 7 catches for a game-high 118 yards and 2 TD.
Washington with his first 100-yard receiving game with #USC and fourth of his career. https://t.co/UfVxNBfyzk
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 30, 2022
UH-OH
Starting left tackle Bobby Haskins is helped off by the trainers #USC
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) October 30, 2022
UNDENIABLY TRUE
Not even discussing the end-of-half #Pac12Refs debacle, two plays have changed the dynamic of this game:
– Holding on Mason Murphy negates 30-yard TD to Terrell Bynum and leads to missed FG.
– Brenden Rice drop in end zone leads to missed FG.— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 30, 2022
BACK IN ACTION
Courtland Ford is in at left tackle to start this drive for #USC.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 30, 2022
CHANGING THE EQUATION
Kyle Ford with a six-yard reception. He's over 100 receiving yards in a game for the first time in his career.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 30, 2022
THIS WAS EARLY IN THE 4TH QUARTER
USC QB Caleb Williams now has a season-high 388 passing yards today. Second game in a row Williams has set his season high in passing.
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 30, 2022
LONG LIST
That's the first touchdown of the season for Kyle Ford.
In the last two games, six different #USC players have caught their first TD pass of the season:
Ford
Tahj Washington
Brenden Rice
Raleek Brown
Michael Jackson III
Josh Falo https://t.co/hlVEbnAixo— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) October 30, 2022
PEACEFUL
I don't think you can be any more at peace as a #USC fan than when you see Travis Dye on the field on 3rd/4th and short
— Austin Green (@AustinGreen44) October 30, 2022
THE DYE IS CAST
Dye finishes off the drive with a TD. #USC's lead is now 45-29 with 6:24 left.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 30, 2022
