Saturday, October 1, 2011

USC vs. Arizona: Live updates from the Coliseum

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USC 10, Arizona 0 (3:58 left in the first quarter)

Two possessions, two scores for the Trojans.

Receiver Robert Woods made the big play on a second consecutive possession, taking a short pass from Matt Barkley and turning it into a 28-yard gain. USC's drive eventually stalled inside Arizona's 30-yard line before Andre Heidari kicked a 46-yard field goal to give the Trojans a two-score advantage.

USC 7, Arizona 0 (7:19 left in the first quarter)

Arizona moved the ball with some success on each of its first two drives, but each ended with nothing to put on the scoreboard.

The Wildcats picked up four first downs on their first drive before punting, and their second drive ended when quarterback Nick Foles threw a pass that USC safety T.J. McDonald intercepted at the Trojans' 30-yard line.

USC 7, Arizona 0 (10:49 left in the first quarter)

Two offensive plays into the game for USC and it's already The Robert Woods Show.

The sophomore receiver caught a nine-yard pass from quarterback Matt Barkley, then took another short pass, slipped a tackle and put his track skills to good use for an 82-yard touchdown.

It was the longest pass completion of Barkley's career and the longest for USC since a 93-yarder from Carson Palmer to Kareem Kelly against Oregon in 2001.

Pregame

It seems silly, calling this a must win for a USC team that has won three of its four games this season. But with the heart of the Pacific 12 Conference schedule ahead, including matchups against Stanford and Oregon, not to mention the annual Notre Dame grudge match, a loss to Arizona would be crippling to the Trojans' hopes for a 10-win season. Not that it will dent their bowl hopes during the final year of their two-year postseason ban.

The Wildcats (1-3) come into the game with zero momentum, having lost three consecutive games to ranked teams. So maybe they'll be up for the challenge after USC fell out of the Associated Press' top 25 in the wake of its 43-22 loss to Arizona State.

Arizona's primary weakness has been the ground game, both on offense and defense. The Wildcats are averaging only 62 yards rushing a game while giving up 233 yards. That's not going to help you beat many teams not named Northern Arizona.

USC is looking to bounce back from a turnover-plagued debacle in which quarterback Matt Barkley had two passes intercepted and lost one of the Trojans' two fumbles. He also had a slip of the mouth that earned him a reprimand from the Pac-12 after he called Arizona's Vontaze Burfict "a dirty player."

MORE:

USC secondary in need of a turnaround

How USC matches up with the Wildcats

Marqise Lee working to overcome freshman mistakes

--Ben Bolch

Photo: USC Coach Lane Kiffin discusses a play with quarterback Matt Barkley during a game against Syracuse earlier this season at the Coliseum. Credit: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

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