Trojans in rare form in dominant half
Darnold throws three touchdowns as USC takes 31-10 lead against ASU
TEMPE, Ariz. — Sam Darnold has spent much of this season explaining. Why have his turnovers ballooned? Why isn’t USC winning as it did last season? Why has he looked different?
He stood in the pocket during USC’s first drive against Arizona State on Saturday and delivered a reminder. Deontay Burnett shot the gap between the cornerback and safety to Darnold’s left side. Darnold arced a pass into the warm evening sky. This one required no explanation. He placed it perfectly.
Darnold delivered reminders for much of the first half Saturday’s game, which ended too late for this edition.
No. 21 USC led Arizona State 3110 at halftime, and Darnold passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns in 30 minutes. He squeezed passes into tight windows. He moved confidently and creatively in the pocket. He even had a 39-yard scamper on a zone-read keep that appeared to fake out not only the defense but most of those in attendance at Sun Devil Stadium. It was the longest run of his career.
Darnold fumbled once but the damage was limited: it came on a sack of fourth down, when Arizona
The USC-Arizona State game Saturday night ended after this edition’s deadline. For the result and full analysis, visit latimes.com/sports.
State would’ve assumed possession regardless.
With a rejuvenated Darnold, the explosiveness returned to USC’s offense. The deluge of mistakes let up, at least for the half.
It was a game that USC had to win. The winner would remain in control of the Pac-12 South division. The loser would have the narrowest of paths to the Pac-12 championship game, with lots of help required.
If USC could protect its lead, its game next week against Arizona would transform almost into a defacto play-in game.
USC cruised in its first drive. Later in the first quarter, Darnold connected with Tyler Vaughns, who tore open the out route as if it were a gift. After the catch, he took a step toward the line of scrimmage and slithered past the cornerback. He ran 37 yards after contact then went airborne over the last defender into the end zone. It was a 42 pass and catch.
In the second quarter, Ronald Jones II through a hole, stepped out of a tackle and high stepped like a Rockette past another before zooming 67 yards for another touchdown.
Jones rushed 14 times in the half for 120 yards.
Later in the quarter, Darnold floated a 19-yard pass into a tight landing pad between three defenders. Again, Vaughns was there. He absorbed a hit to the helmet, flagged for targeting, but held on. He was evaluated by trainers on the sideline for a concussion but returned the next drive. He had four catches for 94 yards in the half..
How explosive was USC in the first half? It scored four touchdowns and dipped a toe inside the Sun Devils’ red zone just once, and then advanced to just the 19-yard line before the second touchdown pass to Vaughns.
With about one minute left before halftime, walk-on freshman kicker Chase McGrath hit a 51-yard field goal, the longest of his career.
Big plays were all Arizona State had. In the first quarter, receiver N’Keal Harry blew past Jack Jones, who settled into a shallow zone, leaving Harry uncovered. Harry got 70 yards downfield before USC wrangled him. But USC’s defense limited the damage to a field goal.
Then, before halftime, Arizona State tried a hail mary. It dredged bad memories for USC, which lost in Sun Devil Stadium in 2014 on a hail mary to Jaelen Strong, in what became known as the "Jael Mary."
Arizona State caught this one, too — but a yard short, the officials ruled. The teams went to the locker rooms. Meanwhile, the officials were reviewing. After several minutes, right before the band took the field for the halftime performance, the officials overturned the call. Both teams were called back from the locker room for the extra point.
In all, USC outgained Arizona State 387 to 197 in the first half — 47 of which, for the Sun Devils, came on the last pass of the half. Arizona State spent a total of five plays in the first 30 minutes in USC territory. It was, in short, a little different than a week ago, when USC was manhandled by Notre Dame.