Shane Foley USC Former Quarterback Reports on The Cross-town Rivarly USC-UCLA 2011
Shane Foley USC Former Quarterback Reports on The Cross-town Rivarly USC-UCLA 2011. It was a weekend of great divide in PAC-10 play last week. #6 Stanford went to Berkeley and demolished Cal 48-14 in their annual Big Game. It was the most lopsided margin of victory for Stanford in 80 years and only their 2nd win in the last nine games against the Bears. After scoring first, UCLA gave up 24 unanswered points to Washington last Thursday night in their 24-7 loss in Seattle. USC traveled up to Corvallis and was hammered in their 3rd straight loss to Oregon State on the road 36-7. It was the largest margin of victory for the Beavers over the Trojans since their first meeting in 1914.
The offensive line needs to take a long hard look in the mirror after this game. Highly touted center Kris O’ Dowd and guards Michael Reardon and Khaled Holmes were thrown around like rag dolls by Beaver senior defensive tackle Stephen Paea. Paea and his teammates had a perpetual push into the Trojan backfield all game with the Trojan O-line looking like bowling pins. The entire Oregon State defensive front outplayed and out-muscled the Trojan offensive line at the point of attack all game which was evident with the four sacks surrendered and several other hurries on both Barkley and Mustain. Oregon State not only pounded the USC O-line physically but they also played with more desire and effort. The USC running game produced 120 yards on 35 carries for a paltry 3.6 yards per carry. More importantly, the Trojans could not pick up yards when they were most needed and almost half of those yards came from a hard running CJ Gable (57 yards on 10 carries) late in the 2nd half when time was running out. The offensive line was reduced to holding four times and that still could not slow down the OSU front. It was a very disappointing game starting in the trenches where the game is won and lost.
With #1 Oregon and #2 Auburn having byes, there were no changes at the top of the rankings this week. #4 Boise State annihilated Fresno State 51-0 in making their case for their shot in the BCS title game if either Oregon or Auburn slips. #5 LSU held on to beat Mississippi 48-36. #9 Ohio State squeezed by the Hawkeyes in Iowa City 20-17. #7 Wisconsin badgered Michigan in Ann Arbor to win 48-27. #19 Texas A&M prevailed in a defensive struggle over #8 Nebraska 9-6. It is a huge Thanksgiving weekend of football leading off on Friday with the Iron Bowl and #2 Auburn heading into Tuscaloosa for their annual showdown with Alabama. #1 Oregon hosts Arizona and Boise State travels to Nevada for the late game.
The Trojans entered last Saturday’s contest with Oregon State ranked 20th in the AP Poll and hopes of finishing strong with 10 wins despite a very challenging season. USC had lost two straight against the Beavers in Corvallis and had not won in the state of Oregon since 2005. The Beavers looked vulnerable after losing their best receiver James Rodgers for the season and getting shocked by Washington State the previous Saturday at home. However, the Beavers came out and outplayed the Trojans in every phase of the game. The Beavers hit the Trojans in the mouth early and USC never hit back. Oregon State set the tone in the trenches from the outset and what a difference a week makes. The Trojans hunkered down in the desert last week against Arizona and ran over the PAC-10’s top ranked rushing defense. Against the inspired Beavers, USC was on the receiving end of a beat down starting up front on both sides of the ball. With their vulnerable defense, USC has relied on a productive offense to win close games all season with the exception of Cal. The Trojans came into Saturday’s game at OSU ranked No.16 nationally in total offense averaging 461.9 yards per game but managed a dismal 255 total yards against the Beavers. They had 10 drives with five or less plays and were anemic on 3rd down converting 4-16 and 2-6 on 4th down. This game marked the first time since 2001 in Pete Carroll’s first season loss to Utah in the Vegas Bowl that USC finished with single digits. It is perplexing that the Trojans continue to come out flat and get down early on the road in Oregon. There is no question that the Beavers and every other team still hves a bull’s-eye on the Trojans backs, largely based on the history of USC’s success. At what point do the Trojans shift gears to hunting vs. being the hunted?
A special mention needs to be given to 5th year senior CJ Gable. He is one of the few players that played with the heart, determination, and effort that the Trojans needed to compete and win against Oregon State last Saturday. He returned a 56-yard kickoff in the 2nd half breaking tackles and grinding out yards that set up USC’s only touchdown. He also ran hard on every carry and finished as the leading rusher with 57 yards on 10 carries. CJ Gable started 10 games as a true freshman only to play behind Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, and more recently Marc Tyler, Allen Bradford, and Dillon Baxter. However, he provided the example of the desire that personifies Trojan football.
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