From that point on, this game took on the look of the Oregon-Cal game a few weeks ago. The halftime score was an identical 10-3 in Oregon’s favor, but, like Cal, USC got the second half kickoff and drove down the field to tie it up at 10-10.  It was Matt Harper’s first interception of a Mark Sanchez pass that shifted the momentum and the Ducks took complete charge of the game with two solid touchdown drives for a 24-10 lead..  It would take another Harper interception with less than 20 seconds left in the game to seal the deal.

Ducks “Prevent” Offense–A ? (question mark) instead of an ! (exclamation point)

With a 24-10 lead and the ball in good field position with about eight minutes left in the game, sure you’d like to run the ball and the clock out.  But, don’t you factor in that the USC defense knows that, too and will key on Jonathan Stewart running the ball between the tackles?  It would have been nice to see Dennis Dixon fake the handoff to Stewart and keep the ball himself as he did effectively in the first quarter.  Obviously, with a two touchdown lead, an offense shouldn’t take any unnecessary risks, but it should not ensure a three and out scenario either.  One of the beauties of the spread offense is the variety of safe passes and running plays available to keep the defense off balance.  The Trojans defense was groggy and on the ropes and the Duck “O” did not deliver the knockout punch and let USC back in the game.

Dixon the Difference

When it’s all said and done, it was Dennis Dixon’s elusiveness, scrambling ability and cool-headed leadership that assured enough offensive points to win this football game.  Dixon set the tone in the first half and must have driven USC’s defense crazy as he would turn what appeared to be nothing into something very positive.  It’s frustrating for a defense when they do everything right in the secondary coverage and the line applies good pressure, but the opposing quarterback is just a superior athlete–and that’s saying a lot when you consider the galaxy of defensive stars the Trojans have. 

It Doesn’t Get Any Easier

After watching ASU overwhelm Cal in the second half it is not a stretch to say that the Sun Devils will bring a better team into Autzen Stadium than we have seen yet.  They are balanced and tough, and the thing that scares me is that they consistently stretch the defense by throwing the ball deep and appear to have receivers that run excellent routes and have a knack for getting open.  All year long ASU has totally dominated the second half.  The Ducks better score early and often and figure out a way to get some pressure on QB Rudy Carpenter as he is more capable of picking a defense apart than Nate Longshore or Mark Sanchez.   The Duck defense has risen to the challenge and made clutch plays each and every Saturday this year.  This week’s game against No. 4 ASU will be their biggest challenge.