True Freshman Quarterback Defeats Buckeyes
Trojans Matt Barkley Leads USC to Comeback Win at Horseshoe
Sep 12, 2009 Derek J Griebenow
USC head coach Pete Carroll looks like a genius. It was considered a bold move by some to start the first ever true freshman in USC school history, Matt Barkley.
USC Defeats Ohio State
A come from behind win inside the Horseshoe (Ohio Stadium) showed why Carroll sticks by the kid.In front of a record crowd for the Horseshoe (106,033), Barkley lead USC to victory with a 95-yard drive. It was one of the most thrilling games in school history.
The game started with Buckeyes sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor being intercepted on the first drive of the game. Carroll made a bold move to go for it on 4th-and-goal for an early 7-0 lead on Stafon Johnson's first TD of the game.
Ohio State would answer on the next possession with a 2-yard score of their own by Dan Herron. The Buckeyes would make it 10-7 to start the second quarter with an 18-yard field goal.
It was a field position and inexperienced QB battle all day. Neither QB played exceptionally well, but Barkley was able to step up when it counted most.
Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel allowed USC to tie the game at 10 entering the half after trying to have his team score in under a minute failed. USC had bounced a field goal off the crossbar and appeared to go into the half down 10-7. But after a few incomplete passes by Pryor, the Trojans got the ball back and were able to kick a 20-yard FG.
Neither team played well on 3rd-down, USC finished 6-of-16(38%) while Ohio State was 4-of-13(31%). These teams also failed to put up a lot of yards as they both averaged under five yards per play.
So, when the long snapper for the Trojans sailed the ball over the punters head for a safety, and Ohio State followed that up with a FG; the game appeared over at 15-10.
Things got a little scary for USC when Barkley appeared to have hurt his throwing wrist or elbow late in the 3rd quarter. After a timeout Barkley returned although he was grimacing.
And then there was the drive. Ohio pinned the Trojans inside their own 20 after electing to pooch punt rather than try a FG. Had Tressel had known then what he knows now, perhaps he would have kicked for three.
USC started at their own 14-yard line and were backed up 5 more yards following a sack. On 2nd-and-15 Barkley was called for delay of game and moved to the 5-yard line. Most must have thought this was it. Not so!
The Trojans would drive down to the Buckeyes 3-yard line on the arm of Barkley and the legs of Joe McKnight. McKnight would carry five times for 34 yards and also catch a 21-yard pass. Barkley was 3-of-5 for 55 yards on the game winning drive. Stafon Johnson would give the Trojans the lead for good with his second 2-yard TD run of the day. McKnight would score the 2-point conversion for the 18-15 lead.
It was a game for the ages, sorry for those who missed it. Matt Barkley has arrived on the college scene and appears ready to take a run at the National Championship.
NCAAF Notables
Another true freshman, Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier, upset #18 Notre Dame in Michigan. Forcier threw the game winning TD with 11 seconds left on the clock for the first real major upset of the year(sorry Bradford, Oklahoma).
Forcier finished 23-of-33 for 240 yards with 2 TD and an INT. He also added 70 yards and a score on the ground in the 38-34 win.
Lou Holtz' prediction of Notre Dame reaching the National Championship may be out the window with the loss.
In another nail-biter, Wisconsin beat Fresno State 34-31 in double overtime in Madison, Wisconsin to start 2-0 on the year.
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