Stanford 45, UCLA 19 (final)

 
The beat goes on for Stanford, and we're not even talking about its world-famous band.

The Cardinal football team has won 12 in a row -- the longest streak in major-college football.

On Saturday in Palo Alto, Stanford made it three in a row over UCLA, methodically -- and occasionally spectacularly -- overpowering the Bruins in a Pacific 12 Conference game.

Let us count a few of the ways:

Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck showed why he is a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, completing 23 of 27 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns.

Just for fun, he added a spectacular reception, making a one-handed, over-the-shoulder grab of a pass from Drew Terrell and managing to get one foot down before sprawling out of bounds.

"He's an unbelievable athlete," Stanford Coach David Shaw said of Luck in a television interview after the game. "The guy can do anything, probably play any position, but we like him at quarterback."

Yeah, good choice, coach.

Sixth-ranked Stanford (4-0, 2-0 in the Pac-12) outgained UCLA, 442 yards to 343, and seemed never to run out of options.

The running game used nine ballcarries, with Stepfan Taylor leading the way with 112 yards and two touchdowns in 17 carries.

And Luck connected with 10 different receivers, with Coby Fleener (four catches, 78 yards, two touchdowns) and Chris Owusu (six catches, 48 yards, one touchdown) leading the way.

UCLA, which fell to 2-3 overall, 1-1 in the Pac-12, received solid play from quarterback Richard Brehaut, who completed 18 of 33 for 202 yards and two touchdowns, and Johnathan Franklin, who had 96 yards rushing in 12 carries.

 

Stanford 45, UCLA 19 (1:51 left in fourth quarter)

Back to methodical for Stanford.

And back into the end zone.

With the outcome in hand, the Cardinal offense just finished a little game of keep away with UCLA, taking 6 minutes 28 seconds to drive 59 yards in 12 plays.

Andrew Luck connected with Chris Owusu for the final five yards and the touchdown.

Stanford 38, UCLA 19 (10:21 left in fourth quarter)

Every time UCLA looks like it might make a game of it, Stanford says, uh, no.

Stepfan Taylor just added his second rushing touchdown of the game, bolting in from a yard out to complete a typically efficient eight-play, 59-yard scoring drive.

Taylor has 112 yards in 17 carries and Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck has completed 19 of 23 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns.

Stanford 31, UCLA 19 (early fourth quarter)

UCLA is showing some life -- and a bad kicking game.

Coming right back after a fumble set up a Stanford touchdown, the Bruins moved 56 yards in nine plays, with Josh Smith scoring on a seven-yard run.

Johnathan Franklin carried three times for 27 yards on the march.

And Jeff Locke missed the point-after, again -- his second miss of the game.

Stanford 31, UCLA 13 (start of fourth quarter)

Just when it looked like UCLA's defense was stiffening, a turnover popped up and mucked things up.

Taylor Embree coughed up a punt at midfield, flinching just as he was about to get hit instead of just calling for a fair catch.

Ty Montgomery recovered for Stanford at the UCLA 40, and after a five-yard penalty it took the Cardinal only four plays to get into the end zone.

Tyler Gaffney scored on a 16-yard run. 

Stanford 24, UCLA 13 (10:31 left in third quarter)

UCLA may be onto something.

The something is tight end Joseph Fauria.

The 6-foot-8 Notre Dame transfer just hauled in his second touchdown pass of the game -- while showing great potential as a high jumper.

Fauria took a short out pass from quarterback Richard Brehaut, turned the corner, and hurdled -- yep, right over the top -- Stanford free safety Michael Thomas just inside the 10 yard line and went in untouched.

Fauria has three catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Brehaut has completed 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards.

Jeff Locke missed the point-after kick.

Stanford 24, UCLA 7 (14:15 left in third quarter)

You know that crack earlier about every Stanford scoring drive taking forever?

Never mind.

The Cardinal took all of 45 seconds to put up a touchdown after halftime.

Stanford's second play from scrimmage was a 51-yard pass from Andrew Luck to Cody Fleener.

Stanford 17, UCLA 7 (halftime)

UCLA is on the board, thanks to a couple of clutch passes from Richard Brehaut to tight end Joseph Fauria, who at 6 feet 8 inches, can be tough to miss.

Brehaut found Fauria twice on a nine-play, 80-yard drive. The first time was on third-and-15, and the gain went for 18 yards.

The second was for a 12-yard touchdown.

Brehaut has completed nine of 14 passes for 126 yards, but he fumbled to set up a Stanford touchdown.

Stanford's Andrew Luck has completed 10 of 12 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinal also has 107 yards rushing, including 77 in 11 carries by Stepfan Taylor.

UCLA has 44 yards rushing, including 42 in eight carries by Johnathan Franklin.

Stanford 17, UCLA 0 (2:37 left in second quarter)

Does every Stanford scoring drive seem to take forever. The Cardinal beat teams methodically.

Jordan Williamson just tacked on a 23-yard field goal at the end of a nine-play, 60-yard march.

The bright side for UCLA: Stanford had a first-and-goal at the 7 and couldn't punch it in for a touchdown.

Stanford 14, UCLA 0 (9:19 left in second quarter)

UCLA compounded one mistake with another, allowing Stanford to cash in with an eight-play, 28-yard scoring drive.

The first miscue was by Bruins quarterback Richard Brehaut, who lost a fumble when the ball was punched out of his hand by Stanford's Chase Thomas. Making matters worse, UCLA was tagged with a 15-yard personal foul after the play.

Stepfan Taylor scored the touchdown on a two-yard run.

Stanford 7, UCLA 0 (end of first quarter)

Ball control and one-hand catches dominated the opening period in Palo Alto.

Nearly the entire quarter was chewed up in one possession by each team. Both drove the length of the field.

Well, in UCLA's case, it was almost the length of the field. The Bruins' drive stalled at the 1, and Stanford took over from there.

The Cardinal took 16 plays to go 99 yards, the highlights being a pair of leaping one-handed catches.

The first was made by Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who showed he can do more than throw by hauling in a pass from receiver Drew Terrell and managing to get the required one foot down before he went sprawling out of bounds.

The other one-hander was on the touchdown, with tight end Coby Fleener pulling in an 18-yard pass from Luck.

UCLA 0, Stanford 0 (early first quarter)

It looked like UCLA was going to accomplish in the opening minutes tonight what it couldn't do in an entire game against Stanford last season:

Score.

On their first possession, the Bruins drove 79 yards in 13 plays, only to stall just short of the goal line.

Johnathan Franklin ran for 16 yards and quarterback Richard Brehaut connected on all four of his passes -- including two on third down -- for 60 yards.

UCLA had the ball first and goal at the Stanford 4, but after Jordan James gained two yards on first down, two runs by Derrick Coleman netted nothing, and Brehaut was stopped a yard short of the goal line on a fourth down run.

--Mike Hiserman

Pregame

UCLA will be without three prominent defensive backs against Stanford and quarterback Andrew Luck tonight.

Starting cornerback Sheldon Price, safety Dalton Hilliard and safety Alex Mascarenas did not make the trip to Palo Alto for the game.

Price has a sprained right knee, which he injured near the end of a 27-19 victory over Oregon State last week. Andrew Abbott is expected to start in his place.

Hilliard, who plays in the defense’s nickel packages, suffered a sprained left shoulder against Oregon State. Mascarenas, who also sees time in nickel packages, has a concussion.

Coach Rick Neuheisel had said all three would be “game-time decisions.”

Mascarenas also holds for field goals and extra points. He will be replaced by wide receiver Taylor Embree.

F-back Anthony Barr and kicker Kip Smith also stayed home. Barr is expected to undergo knee surgery to repair cartilage and Smith has a hip flexor injury.

MORE:

Looking ahead to new classic college matchups

Record day for Barkley in USC win over Arizona

UCLA's Neuheisel is looking for balance on offense

--Chris Foster

Photo: Cody Fleener makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown. Credit: Jason O. Watson / US Presswire.

 

 

 

 

UCLA football: Bruins limit player injury reports

UCLA, which has struggled on the field this season, decided to change its media policy regarding injured players.

The policy shift followed a week in which Coach Rick Neuheisel became angry about player injuries being reported in the media.

Injured players were placed off-limits to the media. Neuheisel will give injury reports only on Mondays and Thursdays.

Neuheisel said this week that he expected cornerback Sheldon Price (knee injury), safety Dalton Hilliard (shoulder injury) and safety Alex Mascarenas (concussion) to play and that it would be a “game time decision.”

None of the players made the trip to Stanford.

“We decided to amend and formalize our injury policy to streamline the injury reporting process,” UCLA spokesman Nick Ammazzalorso said. “The new policy draws its principles from similar policies at [Football Bowl Subdivision] institutions as well as several professional sports leagues.”

-- Chris Foster

Photo: Bruins cornerback Sheldon Price hits the turf after nearly making an interception against Oregon State last week. Credit: Jim Z. Rider / US Presswire

UCLA vs. Stanford: Live updates from Palo Alto

 

Pregame

UCLA will be without three prominent defensive backs against Stanford and quarterback Andrew Luck tonight.

Starting cornerback Sheldon Price, safety Dalton Hilliard and safety Alex Mascarenas did not make the trip to Palo Alto for the game.

Price has a sprained right knee, which he injured near the end of a 27-19 victory over Oregon State last week. Andrew Abbott is expected to start in his place.

Hilliard, who plays in the defense’s nickel packages, suffered a sprained left shoulder against Oregon State. Mascarenas, who also sees time in nickel packages, has a concussion.

Coach Rick Neuheisel had said all three would be “game-time decisions.”

Mascarenas also holds for field goals and extra points. He will be replaced by wide receiver Taylor Embree.

F-back Anthony Barr and kicker Kip Smith also stayed home. Barr is expected to undergo knee surgery to repair cartilage and Smith has a hip flexor injury.

MORE:

Looking ahead to new classic college matchups

Record day for Barkley in USC win over Arizona

UCLA's Neuheisel is looking for balance on offense

--Chris Foster

Photo: Rick Neuheisel's Bruins face the toughest test so far this season in Stanford. Credit: Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times.

 

 

 

 

How to watch UFC: Live Dominick Cruz versus Demetrius Johnson tonight

UFC have reached agreement with Premier Sports UK and Setanta Sports Ireland to broadcast the forthcoming UFC live 6 card this Saturday night. Details below.

- – In the UK, Premier Sports UK will show the event free to air to all UK and Northern Irish homes on Channel number 433 on the BSKYB platform.

- – In Ireland Setanta Sports 1 will show the event free to air to all Republic of Ireland satellite homes on Channel number 424 on the BSKYB platform in Ireland. It is also available on Setanta Sport 1 on UPC cable channel 407.

Those with Virgin will have to watch the event live on UFC.Tv, which is free online. Register yourself with an account and it will unscramble free on your screen at 2am.

Prelim fights on on the UFC Facebook page. Just 'like' the page, and click on Live Event.

The UFC deal with ESPN for numbered events continues until August 2012. There is no deal in place for UFC 'Live' events.

UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson Live Coverage

The Ultimate Fighting Championship runs its first event in Washington, DC Saturday night, headlined by a UFC Bantamweight Title fight between champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Demetrious Johnson. It is the first UFC title fight on free television since Quinton Jackson and Dan Henderson battled for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title in 2007. Cruz has a unique speed oriented striking attack while Johnson is another exceedingly quick athlete with a wrestling background.

Walel Watson vs. Joseph Sandoval

Sandoval is an undefeated prospect making his UFC debut. Watson is also making his UFC debut and has an 8-2 record.

Round 1. Watson lands a beautiful right head kick that drops Sandoval. He pursues Sandoval around the cage with punches and kicks as Sandoval tries to get out of danger. Eventually Sandoval goes down again to a series of punches and the referee calls an end to the fight.

Winner: Walel Watson, TKO, round 1.

Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski

Neer and Wisniewski are well traveled veterans of the sport. Neer sports a 4-6 record in the UFC and 31-10-1 overall MMA record. Wisniewski fought once for the UFC, lost, and proceeded to lose an additional four consecutive fights. His career at a high level appeared to be over, but he rallied to win his next six fights and earn another chance in the UFC.

Round 1. They trade punches at the start of the fight, with Wisniewski grabbing a clinch and throwing a few knees to Neer's body. Neer throws a series of punches to the body while Neer mostly targets the head with his punches. Neer pushes the action a little more as the fight progresses, although Wisniewski is able to counter effectively as well. Neer leads with his jabs and then throws big overhands that are mostly missing. Neer throws a pair of elbows from distance, an unusual tactic that finished a fight in Strikeforce last month. Neer connects with one of his big overhands and Wisniewski is bleeding. Neer continues to throw elbows from the standing position. Good round. 10-9 Neer.

Round 2. Neer throws a few jabs and snaps Wisniewski's head back with a straight right. Wisniewski clinches and Neer throws a few elbows while blocking any attempt at a takedown. Wisniewski continues to pursue a takedown unsuccessfully while Neer continues to use elbows. Wisniewski lands some heavy punches to the body and a big hook. However, Neer is bloodying his face badly with punches and elbows from close distance. Neer keeps throwing up short range elbows and mixes in some uppercuts. Wisniewski is bleeding very badly from the face. Neer loses his mouthpiece and they spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find it as it apparently slipped through the cracks at the corner of the Octagon. After action is started, Neer goes back to work with elbows from the clinch. Neer is taking Wisniewski apart with elbows against the cage and punches when they separate. Neer grabs a standing guillotine choke but can't get the submission as the round concludes. 10-8 Neer. The doctor stops the fight between rounds. Wisniewski's face was a complete mess.

Winner: Josh Neer, TKO, round 2.

In an amusing scene in the postfight interview, Joe Rogan asks Neer about saying between rounds that he suffered a broken rib. Neer denies saying this and Rogan says they have tape of it. Neer devotes the fight to his grandfather who is suffering from cancer.

Shane Roller vs. T.J. Grant

Roller is an exciting fighter to watch with solid wrestling and aggressive striking and submissions. Grant sports a 3-3 UFC record with some tough decision losses to high quality opposition.

Round 1. They start off tentatively. Roller lands a nice punch combination and Grant looks for a takedown. A wild scramble ensues with Grant ending up on top in side control. Roller scrambles out from under, takes top position, and looks to grab a guillotine from top position. He simultaneously tries to get out from Grant's half guard and retain top position. Grant works his way out and ends up on top in Roller's guard. Grant postures up and throws punches down from a high position, although it gives Roller the chance to answer with upkicks. Grant works into side control and throws some shoulder strikes and elbows. Grant is able to lock up one of Roller's arms and throw punches for the remainder of the round. Fun, competitive ground battle. 10-9 Grant.

Round 2. Grant lands a nice head kick that is partially deflected by Roller. Grant moves in with punches and lands a series of knees to the head that appear to stun Roller. Roller looks to take Grant down up against the fence. Roller gives it up and lands a nice uppercut. He goes back to it and connects with another two. Roller grabs a guillotine and looks to submit Grant as Grant slams him down. However, Grant gets out of the guillotine and passes guard. Grant looks to secure full mount but is unable to. Roller looks to work his way into top position and he manages to pull it off. Roller again looks for a guillotine choke from the top but Grant somehow manages to take his back and look for a rear naked choke. Grant then looks to extend an armbar as the round concludes. Very close round. 10-9 Grant.

Round 3. Grant lands the best punch of the round thus far about a minute in with a bit of a looping right hand. Roller pushes for a takedown. Roller gets it but Grant grabs a guillotine choke. Roller pops out his head and Grant immediately transitions to an armbar. Grant is able to extend it pretty well and the referee stops the fight. Roller protests the stoppage. The decision is announced as a verbal tapout, due to Roller screaming out, which is considered a submission. Roller claims he didn't cry out but was simply grunting trying to get out.

Winner: T.J. Grant, technical submission, round 3.

Mike Easton vs. Byron Bloodworth

This is a fight with particular local interest, as Easton is a DC native and considered a fighter on the rise. Easton gets a superstar reaction from the live crowd. Bloodworth is a UFC newcomer who failed to make weight for the fight yesterday. Easton has a huge cheering section with 1,000 Lloyd Irvin students buying tickets and showing up in matching black and green shirts. It's as large of a cheering section as you'll ever see at a UFC event. They immediately start chanting "Easton" loudly.

Round 1. Bloodworth throws a flying knee at the onset of the fight. Easton moves around a lot but doesn't throw much. Easton moves in with some hooks from close distance and then backs off. Bloodworth throws a kick to the body and then a kick to the leg. Bloodworth shoots for a takedown and moves Easton all the way across the Octagon looking to get it. Easton defends and pushes Bloodworth against the cage. The referee separates them. Easton lands a nice leg kick. He keeps pushing forward but he is throwing very little. Bloodworth looks for a takedown but doesn't come close. Close, bad round. 10-9 Bloodworth.

Round 2. Both men start off much more active, throwing punches and kicks in the center of the Octagon. Easton pushes Bloodworth back towards the cage and begins to circle him around the cage like in the first round. Easton throws a few snapping leg kicks to the thigh and chases Bloodworth down. Bloodworth looks for a takedown that is easily defended. Easton lands a nice hook to the jaw. Easton's confidence seems to be rising as he lands more leg kicks. Bloodworth lands a nice counterpunch as Easton walks in. Easton keeps throwing leg kicks while Bloodworth is mostly using jabs and straight punches. Easton loves mean mugging. Easton clinches against the cage and looks for a takedown but Bloodworth quickly reverses and presses Easton up against the cage. Easton lands some hard knees from the clinch, Bloodworth goes down, and Easton finishes the fight with punches. Easton was landing knees to the head. Bloodworth concentrated on those, at which point Easton went to the body with heavy knees and that's what ended Bloodworth's evening.

Winner: Mike Easton, TKO, round 2.

Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass

Johnson was the runner up on the 12th season of the Ultimate Fighter. He has a wrestling background and natural strength, although he can fade as fights progress. Sass is an undefeated British fighter with eight wins in eleven fights via triangle choke.

Round 1. Sass doesn't mess around with the standup and immediately wildly shoots for a takedown. Johnson avoids the takedown and throws out a few jabs and straights to keep Sass at bay. He catches Sass with a big knee to the head as Sass is coming in. Sass tries to move in again and is caught with an uppercut. Sass tries to pull guard and go for straight takedowns. He just wants the fight on the ground. Sass is finally able to pull guard but Johnson looks to stand up. Sass grabs his ankle to keep him from getting up. Sass looks for a heel hook and finally gets the submission. Sass isn't well rounded, but he's got a dangerous ground game. Johnson limps to the back and his leg may be in bad shape.

Winner: Paul Sass, submission, round 1.

--Todd Martin

Still no deal after lengthy NBA talks

NBA owners and players Saturday endured their longest bargaining session since the league instituted its lockout three months ago but failed to strike a deal as the calendar creeps to a scheduled opening night Nov. 1 that appears increasingly vulnerable.

Saturday’s meeting featured exchanges of proposals and achieved what one player described to reporters as minor progress and “some closing of gaps” in a seven-plus hour meeting in New York.

“You have to remember how large the gaps were to begin with,” San Antonio Spurs forward-center Matt Bonner told reporters afterward.

The sides scrapped plans to meet Sunday, however, and instead will gather again Monday, union attorney Jeffrey Kessler told reporters. Bonner, of the union’s executive committee, told ESPN and the San Antonio Express-News part of that is due to the sides being a “little burned out.”

What was expected to be a lengthy weekend of talks opened Friday in an “engaging” fashion, according to Fisher, with NBA stars Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and others entered the talks.

While Wade provided a defining moment by shouting at Stern to not point his finger in the players’ direction as if Wade was a child, the talks closed with the commissioner publicly revealing a revenue sharing plan he indicated the players were warm to.

Stern, in a strong nod that owners can fix some of their own problems that led to the league claiming 22 of 30 teams are losing money and that teams lost a combined $300 million last season, said owners would triple the revenue-sharing pot to about $180 million for each of the first two years of a new deal and increase to at least $240 million in years three and beyond.

Sharing the wealth of lucrative big-market local television money that teams like the Lakers, News York Knicks and Chicago Bulls generate with small-market teams like Sacramento – which is further hamstrung in what it can charge for courtside seats and suites compared to the league giants – is deemed essential by those owners trying to remain competitive.

The players’ hope is that with more of those dollars spread around, the less they’ll be pointed at as the cause of the shortfall.

Before the weekend, the players had already agreed to a so-called “giveback” of salary, moving from their 2010-11 allowance of 57% of basketball-related income (approximately $2.15-plus billion) to somewhere around 53%.

The players previously balked at the owners’ proposal to pay a firm $2 billion in salaries for consecutive years while installing a firm team-by-team salary cap that the players argued would both deprive them of guaranteed contracts and of any upside should the economy recover with continually increased attendance and television ratings.

MORE:

Sides far apart after lengthy negotiations on Friday

Arenas and their workers can afford lengthy lockout

Kobe Bryant to play in Italy? Not so fast

--Lance Pugmire

Lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter.com/latimespugmire

Photo: Derek Fisher, president of the NBA Players' Assn., talks to reporters after Friday's lengthy negotiating session. Credit: Michael Cohen / Getty Images

USC 48, Arizona 41 (final)

It was a day for records but not for defenses.

USC quarterback Matt Barkley passed for a school-record 468 yards during the Trojans' 48-41 victory over Arizona on Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum, with receiver Robert Woods collecting 255 of them on the way to his career high.

The teams combined for a whopping 893 passing yards -- and 1,136 total -- and if it wasn't for two first-half interceptions by USC's T.J. McDonald, Arizona could have easily emerged with a victory.

Arizona quarterback Nick Foles completed 41 of 53 passes for 425 yards and four touchdowns and was outplayed by his counterpart; Barkley was that impressive. The USC junior completed 32 of 39 passes with four touchdowns and one interception.

The Wildcats actually rushed for 129 yards, 15 more than the Trojans. That's a stunning development considering Arizona had struggled mightily to move the ball on the ground before the game.

USC 48, Arizona 41 (1:00 left in fourth quarter)

Crazy, crazy, crazy.

Arizona momentarily made a game of it after Nick Foles connected with Austin Hill in the back of the end zone on a four-yard touchdown reception.

But the Wildcats couldn't recover the onside kick and USC will run out the clock.

The teams have combined for 893 yards, by the way. Where's a defensive coordinator when you need one?

USC 48, Arizona 34 (2:08 left in fourth quarter)

USC's defense got the stop it needed and now the Trojans are near midfield attempting to run out the clock.

It won't be a memorable day for the Trojans' defense. Besides safety T.J. McDonald's pair of first-half interceptions, Arizona has pretty much driven at will against USC.

USC 48, Arizona 34 (9:28 left in fourth quarter)

Matt Barkley now stands alone atop the USC single-game passing chart.

The junior broke Carson Palmer's record of 448 yards with a 25-yard completion to Brice Butler that gave Barkley 453 yards. Trojans running back Curtis McNeal then scored on a nine-yard touchdown run to restore USC's two-touchdown edge over pesky Arizona.

Barkley has completed 30 of 36 passes for four touchdowns with one interception. A stop by the USC defense would likely seal the outcome.

USC 41, Arizona 34 (11:09 left in fourth quarter)

It's shaping up as one of those games where whoever has the ball last is going to win.

Arizona continues to have its way with the USC defense on drives during which Nick Foles doesn't float a pass into the Trojans secondary. Foles just connected with Juron Criner on a 12-yard touchdown pass that has again made it a one-touchdown game.

The Wildcats defense has stopped USC only once and is going to need to come up with at least one more stand to help its team draw even.

UCS 41, Arizona 27 (14:39 left in fourth quarter)

The fourth quarter got off to a rousing start for USC, with quarterback Matt Barkley connecting with Marqise Lee on a 45-yard pass that gave the Trojans a first and goal at the Arizona one-yard line.

Officials initially ruled that Lee's leaping grab was a touchdown before reviewing the play and giving USC the ball at the one.

Barkley then plunged into the end zone on the next play to put the Trojans back in control. Barkley has completed 28 of 33 passes for a career-high 427 yards, the second-highest total in USC history.

USC 34, Arizona 27 (0:52 left in third quarter)

Arizona's offense kicked into high gear after its defense finally got a stop.

USC vs. Arizona: Live updates from the Coliseum

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

Jets-Ravens: Matchup to Watch

Jets (2-1) at Ravens (2-1), Sunday at 8:20 p.m. Eastern, NBC

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Antonio Cromartie vs. Torrey Smith

Going by his season trends, Cromartie is due for a good game Sunday, and he will need one to counter Smith, a speedy rookie whose first three N.F.L. catches went for touchdowns last week against St. Louis. With Darrelle Revis most likely to be assigned to Anquan Boldin, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is bound to test Cromartie, who is recovering from bruised ribs, lungs and pride. He committed four critical penalties and muffed a kickoff against Oakland.

NUMBER TO WATCH: 134

That is how many rushing yards Shonn Greene has this season in three games. Of the 23 running backs with at least 40 carries this season, only Chris Johnson (98 yards) has been less productive, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. With Haloti Ngata and Ray Lewis anchoring the middle of the Ravens’ defense, the Jets will probably throw the ball more than they would like. But any contribution from Greene, whose yards-per-carry average has increased every week, would help to offset the imbalance.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK

“I just go back to my nightmares; when I wake up in the middle of the night sweating, it’s because I think of 2008, the three losses in 2008. He had a hand in all of them.”
The Ravens defensive coordinator CHUCK PAGANO on Santonio Holmes, who scored touchdowns in the Steelers’ three games against Baltimore, all victories, in 2008.

Rugby World Cup 2011: What was really said in the England, Scotland, NZ and France dressing rooms…

Wonderful thing, this technology, allows me to eavesdrop on coaches in their dressing rooms. And given events of the past 24 hours, there’s been a lot of cheering and cussing.

This is what was said around New Zealand yesterday:

England’s Martin Johnson: “Jesus Christ, you bumbling idiots age me prematurely. Was getting ready to pack my bags when finally you played some rugby. Well done, lads, I thought we were done for. That said, thank the Lord we don’t have NZ, the Aussies or Saffas in our half of the draw because we would have been on a plane very soon.”

Scotland’s Andy Robinson: “Ah for ***** sake, how many times must I tell ye lads this game is 80 minutes long. You run and tackle and kick yourselves hoarse for 75 minutes, then get caught cold by what England are terrible at… running the ball to score tries. I figured out limp show against Argentina would come to haunt us. Let’s go home, we all need a strong wee drink.”

New Zealand’s Graham Henry: “Ah ****, ****, ****. Anyone but Dan Carter. Ah ****, ****, ****. Without him we’re just pants. Phone the PM and see if we can make Felipe Contepomi a Kiwi by Friday.”

France’s Marc Lievremont: “You are le merde, le stupid, le losers, le pathetic. My contract runs out on Oct 24 but I’m of good mind to fly home now. Then again, may as well stick around for this last week, we’re out of here after the quarter-finals. You stinking bunch of escargots.”

Tonga's Quddus Fielea: "Life is sweet, bro, pass me a beer. Sheesssss, what might have happened if we'd not folded to Canada. No worries, bro, next time."

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, suppliers of Protein Shakes to Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh Rugby Team.

Giants-Cardinals: Matchup to Watch

Giants (2-1) at Cardinals (1-2), Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Eastern, Fox

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Giants’ secondary vs. Larry Fitzgerald

It’s impossible to put any one Giant in the matchup with Fitzgerald. Everyone will get a chance to cover him (he’s so talented that maybe they should all do it at the same time). Led by two interceptions from Aaron Ross, the Giants limited Philadelphia’s  big-play threats in Week 3. Can they do the same against the Cardinals’ biggest weapon?

NUMBER TO WATCH: 5.7

Arizona running back Beanie Wells averaged 5.7 yards per carry in his first two games before sitting out last week with a hamstring injury. He is expected to return against the Giants, and his shiftiness will challenge the Giants’ defense, which has allowed only 3.6 yards per rushing attempt so far this season.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
“I don’t want them to double me. I want to get out there and hopefully get some easy catches and walk away with a victory. That would be ideal if I could script it the way I want to script it.”’
Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD, on how he hopes the Giants will try to cover him.