From: valdis@spica.usc.edu (Valdis Kalejs)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Trojan News Vol.5
Date: 13 Sep 1992 18:49:22 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: spica.usc.edu


This issue will cover last weeks USC/SDSU game and also the upcoming showdown
with Oaklahoma.

USC/SDSU: During the week prior to the game most experts agreed that the game
          would most likely come down to the team that had the ball last.
          Well...almost! Here were the stats:

First Quarter:

USC 7 SDSU 0:Conway,22 yd pass from Johnson (2 play, 24 yard drive after 16 yd.
             punt by SDSU).

USC 7 SDSU 7:Faulk 1yd run. (3 play, 21 yard drive after recovering Johnson's
             fumble).

USC 14 SDSU 7:Morton, 24 pass from Johnson. Key runs: Conway (18),Crayton (11)
              yd runs. Key passes: Morton (9), Hannah (12) yd passes from John-
              son.

Ssecond Quarter:

USC 21 SDSU 7: Morton 17 yard pass from Johnson: Key runs Crayton (8). Key
               passes: Wallace (35) pass from Johnson.


Third Quarter:

USC 21 SDSU 10: Trakas, 38 yd field goal

USC 21 SDSU 16: Faulk, 11 yd run. Key runs: Faulk (9 & 12), Key passes Wil-
                liams (18) from Lowery. PAT: run failed.

SDSU 24 USC 21: Scott 31yd pass from Lowery  (1 play drive after Smith re-
                covered Johnson's fumble). PAT: Williams, pass from Lowery.

USC 28 SDSU 24: Morton, 19 pass from Johnson. Key runs: Johnson (19), Mc Fadden
                (8). Key pass: Conway (8 &10) from Johnson.

SDSU 31 USC 28: Faulk, 59 yd run. (70 yd drive, 3 plays).


Fourth Quarter:

USC 31 SDSU 31: Ford 32 yd field goal.

Field goal missed: Trakas (30 & 55) Ford (47).


Team Stats:          USC             SDSU

First Downs          20               20
Rushes-yds       45-165           35-229
Yds passing         278              162
Plays-net yds.   78-443           74-391
Turnovers             3                1
Penalties-yds     10-93             6-40
Time of poss.     32:08            27:52


Passing:

Johnson (20-33) 278 yds, 3 Tds, 1 int
Lowery  (17-39) 162 yds, 1 TD, 1 int


Rushing Leaders:

USC:
Crayton 18-76yds 0 TDs
Mc Fadden 13-74 yds 0 TDs

SDSU:
Faulk 27-220 3 TDs
Pittman 3-19 0 TDs


Receiving Leaders:

USC:
Morton 3-84 3 TDs
Conway 5-80 1 TD

SDSU:
Scott 7-78 1 TDs
Williams 3-40 0 TDs


Analysis: In the first half SC had played unlike a team that usually plays in
          their season opener. Offensively SC was crisp in the first half
          moving the ball well both on the ground and in the air. On defense,
          SC looked pretty good as well in the first half keeping Faulk in
          and the rest of SDSU's offense in check. The second half SC offense
          sputtered, keeping SC's defense on the field for most of the third
          quarter where the Aztecs scored 24 points erasing SC's halftime ad-
          vantage and even fell behind on a couple of occasions. Most of the
          downfall offensively was that SDSU had changed their defensive scheme
          a bit by blitzing and stunting on almost every down,and the fullbacks
          (Bender & Mooney) and tailbacks ( Crayton and Mc Fadden) unable to 
          make the necessary adjustments to pick them up forcing Johnson to
          rush the play and/or taking the sack. On defense poor tackling and
          a lack of a rush let Faulk and Lowery do what they do best and that
          is moving the football. Even though being a loyal Trojan fan, seeing
          the things that Faulk did that day was sheer magic. He's one (if not
          the best) runner Ive seen in many years. If he comes close in match-
          ing his performaces is the last week, many a NCAA rushing records 
          will come 'a fallin. 


USC VS Oaklahoma: Definately looking forward to this one. Oaklahoma is comming
                  off impressive wins over Texas Tech and Akansas St. They are
                  both big and fast on offense and defense with alot of big 
                  play players. Gundy their quarterback has brought a demention
                  to the Sooners, that they had lacked in the Barry Switzer
                  era: a legitamate passing game. The SC defense will be tested
                  once again,but I feel that actually running the football
                  successfully will be the key to their success, since SC has
                  had problems stopping the run and has done well against the
                  pass. For SC still balance on offense and consistancy on de-
                  fense will be the key. SC will have to put constant pressure
                  on Gundy forcing him to make some key mistakes. Offensively
                  Johnson will have to learn to avoid the rush a bit better and
                  find the secondary receivers when the Sooners come blitzing.
                  Also a word of advise for Larry Smith. Ever since Conway has
                  been returning kickoffs, Smith has always paired him with an-
                  other receiver,giving the opposing teams someone else to kick
                  to. I'm for moving the extra receiver up and leaving Conway
                  back by himself,almost forcing the opposing team to either
                  squibbing the ball,and possibly giving SC good field position
                  Or forcing them to kick the ball soley to Curtis and having
                  the extra man blocking for him. There has been so many close
                  calls where Conway has been one block away from going all the
                  way. Something to think about...

FIGHT ON SC BEAT THE SOONERS!

Valdis


PS: To you ND Fans, A Hall of Fame coach's view of a team that SETTLES for a
    tie:

"A TIE? MY LORD! The game is tied to start out with. In the 60 minutes you play
you're supposed to TRY to end up with some sort of differential one way or a-
nother. And the team goes home and says WE TIED THEM! MY LORD!You might as well
not have played the game at all"....

John McKay


Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college