LOS ANGELES - The Southern California football team had lost two games this season on last-second field goals.
ASU lost two heartbreakers as well.
Something had to give Saturday night when the two teams met. Someone’s luck had to change.
Fortunately for the Trojans (6-3, 3-3 Pac-10), it was their night, as they squeaked out a win over the Sun Devils (4-5, 2-4), 34-33.
“I really kind of felt like, ‘finally,’” USC coach Lane Kiffin said. “We just hadn’t had many breaks throughout the year whether it was kicks or clock management. It was just really good for our players after such a rollercoaster game.”
A rollercoaster game didn’t describe the half of it. Saturday had it all: a kickoff return for a touchdown, a blocked punt, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns, yet none of those plays was what will be remembered most.
With the game coming down to the final minutes, ASU took the lead, 33-29, on a nine-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Steven Threet to sophomore receiver Jamal Miles.
On the ensuing point-after attempt, USC junior offensive tackle Tyron Smith blocked the kick and redshirt freshman Torin Harris returned the ball the length of the field for two points.
State Press Television By Andrew Boven
“[Special teams] coach [John] Baxter did a great job of preparing us,” said USC sophomore safety and special teams player T.J. McDonald. “He puts us in a great position and we go out there and play. We practice blocking balls every day.”
Once the Trojans got the ball back, the ASU defense forced Troy into a third down and six, but a personal foul penalty on ASU sophomore linebacker Vontaze Burfict gave the USC drive new life.
After back-to-back runs by redshirt junior running back Marc Tyler for a combined 47 yards, the Trojans found themselves in field goal range.
On fourth down, Kiffin sent in his redshirt senior kicker to give his team the lead again.
“I’m human, I was anxious,” USC kicker Joe Houston said. “But I believe in myself and my teammates, and the team put me in a position to succeed.”
Despite Houston having missed two chip shot field goals earlier in the game, his teammates remained confident in his abilities.
“We never doubted him; he makes those kicks all the time in practice,” McDonald said. “He missed a couple but that’s a great job by him to respond. I have the utmost respect for him, and I’m sure he’ll be hearing about that.”
The 29-yard field goal gave USC a one-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Sun Devils then took the ball 68 yards in nine plays to set up a potential game-winning kick. But unlike the Trojans’ losses to Washington and Stanford, this time, their opponent faltered.
ASU senior kicker Thomas Weber missed the 42-yard field goal wide left.
“I was preparing for if he made it, but I was just praying he would miss and he did,” USC sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley said.
Barkley finished the game 26-of-37 for 215 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Sun Devils did get one final chance with 22 seconds left, but USC freshman cornerback Nickell Robey intercepted Threet’s last-second heave.
“It feels real good to be at the winning end of this one,” McDonald said. “You put so much heart into it, and to be able to come out here and win a game, it feels real good.”
Reach the reporter at tyler.emerick@asu.edu
