USC Forces 5 Turnovers, Rout California

Dion Bailey returns his second interception on the night.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Coming into last night's game, USC had only forced 5 turnovers on the season. You wouldn't have been able to tell as the turnovers kept pouring in, starting with a Keenan Allen fumble which set up USC in Cal territory early in the first. By the end of the game, the Trojans had doubled that yearly total forcing 5 turnovers for Zach Maynard and the Golden Bears. USC opened up the offense with a deep pass from Matt Barkley to Marqise Lee to put the Trojans in business at the 6 yard line. After three plays though, USC was unable to punch it in for a touch down and on 4th down lined up in a swinging gate like formation. With an errant direct snap to tight end Rhett Ellison, California escaped the opening drive not allowing any points.

USC and Cal traded punts through most of the rest of the first quarter until Nick Perry broke through the line and forced a fumble from Zach Maynard. USC was once again starting with the ball deep in Cal territory, but the Golden Bear defense stood strong and forced a Trojan field goal. That seemed to open up the flood gates as USC scored another 17 points in the second quarter highlighted by two Barkley touch down passes, one to Marqise Lee and the other to Brandon Carswell.

With time winding down in the first half, California got some offensive momentum and got the ball down into the Trojan red zone. With under a minute to play, Cal's most promising drive was thwarted by Dion Bailey's first of two interceptions in the end zone and the Trojans would go into the break holding a commanding 20-0 lead. After a USC field goal to open the second half scoring, Cal had their chance to move the ball down the field and broke their scoring drought, getting into the red zone and converting on a field goal. The reeling Cal defense made a stop and the Bears looked to get back into the game. Maynard connected on 4 consecutive passes and then ran it in himself from 3 yards out to bring the Bears within 23-9 after the extra point attempt was blocked.

Cal had the opportunity to really put some pressure on USC, forcing successive punts but were unable to do anything with the ball, giving it back on a punt and then Dion Bailey again intercepted Zach Maynard and returned it inside the 10 yard line. Curtis McNeal punched it in from 2 yards out to render the final margain of 30-9.

Keenan Allen continues to impress, last night he reeled in 13 receptions for 160 yards. It is clear that Allen is Maynard's favorite target as more than half of Maynard's completed passes went to Allen. As good as Allen is and has been, you have to wonder if defenses are going to focus on shutting down the talented sophomore and force Zach Maynard to look elsewhere to get his yardage. You can't stop Allen from getting the ball but you can minimize his impact.

For USC, injuries are a concern as they lost starting running back Marc Tyler and Marqise Lee to shoulder injuries. The Trojans need those guys as they move into the heart of the Pac-12 schedule as well as their yearly showdown with Notre Dame. Also, Barkley looked shaky in the early going and missed on some passes that he would normally make. It could be just a blip on the radar for the Junior signal caller and it must be if the Trojans are going to be successful this season.