USC sophomore tailback Justin Davis runs through the ASU defense on Oct. 3, 2014. ASU won against USC 38-34. (Photo by Alexis Macklin)LOS ANGELES — In a game that had the ups and downs of the Revenge of the Mummy ride at nearby Universal Studios Hollywood, the USC football team finished Saturday with a plummet.
The Trojans (3-2, 2-1 Pac-12) watched on as junior wide reciever Jaelen Strong hauled in a prayer from redshirt junior quarterback Mike Bercovici to propel ASU to a 38-34 victory at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
"In the end, it's the old adage, 'That's why you play 60 minutes, that's why you play four quarters,'" USC coach Steve Sarkisian said after the game. "When you go up at the end of the game like that with three minutes left, it's never over. You learn the hard way in games like this. I feel bad for our kids, I thought they fought hard, did really well and played with amazing effort, though we didn't get it done in the end."
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USC redshirt junior quarterback Cody Kessler stretches to score a touchdown in a game against ASU on Oct. 4, 2014. ASU won against USC 38-34. (Photo by Alexis Macklin)Sarkisian said he would rather not call the result of a Hail Mary play luck, but rather the result of positioning and preparation.
"I hate saying it's luck," Sarkisian said. "Since the first grade you play three flies up when you're a kid and you try to go up and catch it and if you do, you get to go throw it. It's how many years later and I've seen two now in a year and I've never been part of one before. You practice it and you try to execute it and try to have the right people in place on both sides of the ball and, believe me, we practiced it this week and I'm sure ASU did too and they made the play."
The Sun Devils (4-1, 2-1 Pac-12) trailed by nine points with 3:02 after a touchdown by redshirt junior Buck Allen, but were able to score 13 unanswered points to snatch the win.
Junior wide receiver Nelson Agholor runs after a catch in a game against ASU on Oct. 4, 2014. ASU won against ASU 38-34. (Photo by Alexis Macklin)Bercovici led the ASU offense, going 27-for-45 for 510 yards and five touchdowns. Strong was, once again, his favorite receiver, snagging 10 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns.
Allen carried the load for the Trojans, gaining 143 yards on the ground and 86 yards through the air. Redshirt junior quarterback Cody Kessler went 28-for-45 for 273 yards and rushed for a touchdown.
USC also was able to control the game for the most part, holding the ball for nearly 15 minutes and 30 plays more than ASU, but, in the end, the only statistic that matters for the Trojans is the final score.
As his press conference came to a close, Sakrisian spoke about the ramifications of the loss.
"It leaves us with one loss in conference play," Sarkisian said. "It leaves us stinging with a sick feeling in our gut. And it leaves us with a chance to show who we are and to show our mettle and to show our resolve."
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Tonis_The_Tiger
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