Stanford Dismount the Trojans

The Trojans were at home as they faced Stanford on Usc's homecoming Saturday. The game was expected to be very heated and close, which it was for the most part. Andrew Luck passed a short pass to Owen Marecic for 7-0 lead in the first. When the Trojans received the ball after the Cardinals scored, they were marching down field in scoring range when Barkley was pressured by the defensive line and he tried to scramble, but ended up fumbling the ball. The Cardinals recovered and this set up Toby Gerhart- the leading Pac-10 rusher, to have the second touchdown for a run for the Cardinals who were then up 14-0 in the first quarter. The Trojans scored later on in the second quarter, but after they did, so did the Cardinals. The offense of Stanford was dominant and the Trojans were thrashed.

Barkley was pressured many times, which lead to his three interceptions, one of which came within the crucial final minutes of the 4^th quarter where he threw a short pass to his right as he was doing for most of the day. But this time the corner covering the Trojan receiver jumped the route and returned the ball for a touchdown. This put the Cardinals up by 3 scores and the Trojans fans left in dismay; confused about what had taken place in the Coliseum. It seems that after the late pick, the Trojans gave up on trying. The Cardinal would go on to score 13 more points on a battered USC defense.

The Trojans have been building up their team since 8 of their starters left after last season. The rebuilding will continue and the Trojans will be back in form next season as Barkley gains more experience and the offense is more comfortable with one another.

The Trojans are out of Rose Bowl consideration, but Stanford now has the chance to make it if they beat California next week.

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