Saturday, October 18, 2008

Cougars fail to cross midfield in 69-0 Trojans Whipping


People will read the score and automatically draw references to the Trojans offense, but this game was a tribute to the USC defensive unit. Southern Cal has now recorded consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1971, and now has held their opponents scoreless for 10 consecutive quarters. It has been 11 quarters since they’ve surrendered an opposing touchdown, and that came assisted by a roughing the kicker penalty on a field goal attempt that extended an Oregon drive.

The Victory equaled the largest shutout victory for USC since 1931. It was the worst defeat for Washington State in the program’s long history that stretches more than 100 years. The victory also snapped Washington State’s streak of scoring in 280 consecutive games, which was second only to Michigan. The crippled Cougars managed just 28 passing yards and 88 on the ground, while managing just 4 first downs and punting 9 times. Even with the starters sitting in the second half, the shutout was preserved by bench players and walk-ons, with the Cougars playing 60 minutes of football without ever running an offensive play in Trojans territory.

Mark Sanchez equaled a school record with 5 touchdown passes, and three Trojan running backs eclipsed the 100 yard mark. Redshirt freshman, Broderick Green, who had been very vocal in the prior weeks for being buried on the depth chart and not getting much playing time, led the stable with 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. Though the Trojans tried repeatedly to keep the clock moving, the Cougars failed to stop simple running plays up the middle, which Green broke for large gains.

Even with the Trojans’ roster thinned by injuries and a stomach virus that has been circulating the SC campus for the past two weeks, the Men of Troy could have easily scored 100 points against their opponents, and damn near scored 70 without trying. I’ve said for weeks that Washington State, with all their problems, is by far the worst team of all in BCS conferences. And with every week that passes, they continue to prove me right.

Fight On!

1 comment:

Conquest Chronicles said...

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