The Stanford Cardinal came into Levi’s Stadium a 3.5 point underdog, and gave the Trojans NEARLY everything they had. Head coach of the Cardinal, David Shaw, elected to go for it with about 7 minutes left in the fourth, on a fourth and one on the goal line. Cameron Scarlett (with Bryce Love on the sideline severely hobbled) was stuffed, and the Cardinal ended up losing by three.
It pains me knowing that Stanford could have been conservative, exactly what they are, and kick the field goal to tie. But I would have gone for it as well. It was too close, too good of a running back to not give him the ball, and a good time to do it.
Senior captain @UchennaN_42 steps up to force the turnover on downs!#FightOn | #BeatTheFarm pic.twitter.com/O1gu5Ung2I
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) December 2, 2017
This is a whole different story if this game has 2 minutes left. Shaw went for it, didn’t get it, USC comes back with a quick touchdown, and Stanford is down by 10 in the blink of an eye.
Darnold and Jones
These guys were practically perfect in a game where it was due. Darnold finished the game 17-24 for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns. Notice I didn’t bring up interceptions. 0. A (good) goose egg.
As for Ronald Jones the Third…
Ronny went full beast mode with 140 on 30 carries, and 2 touchdowns himself.
You can’t say enough about the two guys USC needed to be horses this season, they were in this game, which technically was their season. They get to the Rose Bowl, and truly earned the right to represent the Pac-12.
Final Takes
I was rooting for Stanford to win, but understood what would happen in the end. Sam Darnold is very good at tossing the pig skin around.
He had some dimers, and could be displayed in a trophy case.
WR @MikePitt_Jr doubles his receiving yards on this 40-yard catch! #FightOn pic.twitter.com/DZAoPNHhpb
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) December 2, 2017
Just an absolute beauty pitch, and a very nice catch from Michael Pittman. Pittman had himself a day as well, going off for 146 on 7 receptions.
Darnold looks like a number 1 overall pick, unless that pick happens to be the Cleveland Browns. In that case, let Josh Rosen go burn in that fire.
USC was supposed to be the best team in the Pac-12, and they proved they were. We all wish we could see them in the CFP because their talent competes with those teams. An all time football game would be Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold in the College Football Playoff.
A lot of what-ifs in the College game, but that’s what makes it so beautiful. It is predictable, but just unpredictable enough to make you believe it won’t be. Pro sports are just predictable from the start. College at least takes you on a roller-coaster ride, even though it almost always comes to a predictable end.
The last play of the game also was incredibly gutsy, and only worked out because there was an onside kick, and field position.
https://twitter.com/PhenomenalOneJ/status/936817542672171008
4th and 2, possession on the line, give it to the HORSE. ONE OF EM! ANY OF EM! And what do you know, it paid off. Using Jones for the play action, and having the TE flank was beautiful.
Let’s roll with the Trojans until the end. What could have been…
March on Trojans, March on.