How bad did San Jose State lose in the football game against USC?”
USC Trounces San Jose State, 56-3 September 5, 2009 6:55 PM Posted by ESPN.com’s Ted Miller LOS ANGELES — Quarterback Matt Barkley and the USC defense answered many questions Saturday with a 56-3 win over San Jose State. A bigger question, of course, is can they do the same on the road at Ohio State? Barkley, the first true freshman to start a season-opener for the Trojans, completed 15 of 19 for 233 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. There was nothing to suggest he can’t handle being the USC starter, even though he turns 19 on Sept. 8. As for the Trojans defense, which was replacing eight starters, it gave up a first-quarter field goal and then lowered the boom, throttling the Spartans. The Buckeyes figure to be far more taxing, but this performance suggested the Trojans will be ready to go.
USC certainly made a stronger opening statement than next week’s opponent. While Ohio State barely slipped past Navy, the Trojans trampled San Jose State by a final score of 56-3. USC used its veteran offensive line and bevy of backs to overpower the Spartans and make Matt Barkley’s college debut a relatively easy one. The Trojans scored 56 consecutive points after falling behind, 3-0, in a shaky first quarter. Joe McKnight started the third-quarter scoring with a Reggie Bush-esque 54-yard run. Barkley then recorded his first career touchdown pass, a 4-yard toss to tight end Rhett Ellison. Barkley went 6 of 6 on the drive, accounting for all 93 yards. Barkley finished 15 of 19 for 233 yards before yielding to Aaron Corp in the fourth quarter. Perhaps most important of all, Barkley had no interceptions. McKnight rushed for a career-high 145 yards and two scores. Allen Bradford had 53 yards, including a 43-yard score. Stafon Johnson also scored twice.
It was all going quite well for San Jose State on Saturday in its much-anticipated encounter with fourth-ranked USC. Midway through the second quarter, the Spartans were trailing by just four points and on the move, gaining yards in chunks. But a disputed call changed the game — or at least accelerated SJSU’s demise in what became a 56-3 defeat in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Spartans tailback Patrick Perry had just rumbled for a first down at the USC 42. But after a lengthy huddle, officials ruled that the ball popped out before Perry hit the ground and that the Trojans had recovered.
