USC vs. Oregon Football 2009
Ducks Can End Trojans' Pac-10 Dominance
No. 4 Southern Cal and No. 10 Oregon collide Saturday, Oct. 31, in the Pac-10’s most crucial game of the season. Oregon (6-1 overall, 4-0 Pac-10) is alone in first place, and a victory at Eugene, Ore., would knock USC two games off the pace with four remaining.
If the Trojans (6-1, 3-1) come out on top, they'd pull the Ducks back into a first-place tie – with idle Arizona (5-2, 3-1) just a half-game back.
Oregon, nonetheless, has been the Pac-10's hottest team. Coach Chip Kelly’s Ducks have won six straight, including an impressive 43-19 decision at Washington last week. The Huskies are the only team to defeat USC this season.
The Ducks haven’t lost since a 19-8 loss to Boise State in the season opener Sept. 3. And they haven’t been seriously challenged since a 31-24 triumph over Utah on Sept. 19. The other four victories each came by at least two touchdowns.
USC has won four straight – including two close ones in a row. Coach Pete Carroll’s Trojans turned back Oregon State 42-36 last week, one game after fighting off Notre Dame 34-27.
Southern Cal leads the series 37-16-2, and has won four of last five. Last year, the Trojans won 44-10 in Los Angeles. But Oregon won the last meeting at Autzen Stadium – 24-17 in 2007.
ABC will telecast Saturday’s game, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST.
USC’s Williams Sharp on Offense, Special Teams
A crucial play in USC’s win last week was a 63-yard punt return by Damian Williams in the fourth quarter. It gave the Trojans a 19-point lead, and it helped Williams become one of the national leaders.
The junior is averaging 18 yards per runback, ranking fourth in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. Williams is also his team’s leading receiver, with 34 catches for 514 yards and three TDs.
The return of Ronald Johnson stabilizes a USC receiving crew that also features tight end Anthony McCoy (16 catches, 375 yards) and fullback Stanley Havili (14 catches, 207 yards).
Johnson, who missed the first five games because of a broken collarbone, has seven catches for 112 yards and a TD in two contests. Six of the receptions came vs. Oregon State.
USC Backup Breaks Loose
QB Matt Barkley has thrown for 1,540 yards in six games, completing 60.2 percent with seven TDs and five interceptions. The freshman guides a balanced attack that averages 31.4 points and 440.4 yards per game
One of the more encouraging developments vs., Washington was the performance of Allen Bradford. The senior backup rushed 15 times for 147 yards and two TDs. He raised his season totals to 375 yards and four touchdowns, and he’s averaging 7.4 yards per carry.
USC’s leading rusher is Joe McKnight, who has 617 yards and seven TDs on a 6.4-yard average.
USC Defense Gives Up Highest Total
The Trojans, who did not give up 300 yards to any of their first five opponents, yielded 367 to Notre Dame, and then 482 to Oregon State. But it’s hard to get too discouraged with a unit that’s been surrendering just 15.1 points and 291 yards per contest.
And USC’s tied the FBS lead in sacks with 29. Defensive lineman Everson Griffen shares fifth place with an average 1.14 per game and lineman Nick Perry is tied for eighth at 1.0.
Southern Cal’s top tackler is All-American safety Taylor Mays, who’s posted a team-high 49 despite missing a game due to injury.
Other standouts include linebacker Chris Galippo (48 tackles), linebacker Michael Morgan (10. 5 tackles for loss), tackle Jurrell Casey (30 tackles), cornerback Josh Pinkard (6 pass breakups) and cornerback Kevin Thomas (31 tackles, 5 pass breakups).
Still, USC has to be a bit concerned about the trouble it had last week vs. QB Sean Canfield (329 yards) and running back Jacquizz Rodgers (115 yards). Rodgers averaged 5.7 yards per carry against the nation’s No. 5 run defense.
Oregon QB Masoli Solid in Return
Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli returned to action last week after missing the previous game because of a knee injury, and he delivered a steady performance. The junior rushed for a pair of TDs, and threw for another.
Masoli has run for 272 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns in 2009. He’s completed 60.5 of his passes for 905 yards and five TDs, with two interceptions.
Freshman LaMichael James (735 yards, 6 TDs, 6.9 yards per carry) keys a rushing attack that churns out 210.7 yards per contest. Tight end Ed Dickson (27 receptions, 364 yards, 4 TDs) and Jeff Maehl (21 catches, 252 yards) have been the most productive receivers.
The Ducks are producing 34.0 points and 368.1 yards per game. Much of their success vs. USC will depend on their ability to run. Last year, Oregon was held to 239 yards total offense, and just 60 on the ground.
Lewis, Matthews Lead Ducks in Tackles
Oregon gave up 395 yards to Washington – its highest total since Week No. 2. But that was nothing to get alarmed about. The Huskies managed just one long touchdown drive, which happened when the game was out of reach.
The Ducks are allowing only 16.7 and 297.1 yards a contest in 2009, and rank 10thin the FBS with 3.14 sacks per game.
Rover Javes Lewis is a major playmaker, making two interceptions, forcing two fumbles and breaking up four passes. Lewis has recorded 44 tackles, and shares the team lead with linebacker Casey Matthews – whose father and brother both starred at USC.
The cast also features safety John Boyett (43 tackles, 2 interceptions), linebacker Spencer Paysinger (36 tackles, 5 pass breakups), linebacker Kenny Rowe (7 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles) and defensive end Will Tukuafu (5.5 tackles for loss).
Standout safety T.J. Ward, who had been sidelined by a bad ankle since the Boise State game, returned to action vs., Washington and posted five tackles. But cornerback Talmadge Jackson IIII was sidelined by a back injury.
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