Oct. 1, 2005
Game Notes - USC at ASU (pdf)
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October 1, 2005
Frank Kush Field at Sun Devil Stadium; Tempe, Ariz.
#1/1 USC (4-0, 2-0 Pac-10) 38, #14/15 Arizona State (3-2, 1-1 Pac-10) 28
Official Start Time: 12:41 p.m.
Game Time Temp: 95°
Attendance: 71,706
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score ----------------- -- -- -- -- ----- #1 USC.............. 0 3 14 21 - 38 #14 Arizona State... 7 14 0 7 - 28
All-Time Series vs. USC: USC increased its lead to 13-9 in the all-time series with Arizona State, which dates back to 1978, ASU's first year as a member of the Pac-10 Conference. USC has won the last six meetings and seven of the last eight. USC started its current 26-game win streak with a 37-17 win in 2003 in Tempe. In 11 meetings at Sun Devil Stadium, USC holds a 7-4 edge. ASU's last win over USC was in Los Angeles in 1999 (26-16). The Sun Devils opened the all-time series winning five of the first seven against the Trojans.
Hagan Moves Up Pac-10 List: Senior Derek Hagan led all players with 10 catches for 162 yards, marking the second straight and third of his career with double-digits catches in a game. The 10 catches extend his consecutive games streak to 34 with at least one catch and he has at least one catch in 41 of 43 career games. He moved into fifth in Pac-10 history with 3,322 career receiving yards and needs seven catches to move into the top five for career catches. He already holds both ASU records and is two touchdowns shy of matching the school record.
RECEIVING G Rec Yds TD Lg Rec/G Avg/C Avg/G 2002................ 14 32 405 0 51 2.3 12.7 28.9 2003................ 12 66 1076 9 80 5.5 16.3 89.7 2004................ 12 83 1248 10 79 6.9 15.0 104.0 2005................ 5 36 593 5 45 7.2 16.5 118.6 TOTAL............... 43 217 3322 24 80 5.0 15.3 77.3
Keller Finally Throws INT: For only the third time in six career starts, junior quarterback Sam Keller threw an interception. His first of a career-high five interceptions, the first play of the second quarter, broke a string of 131 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, falling just six short of breaking the school record held by Mike Pagel. Keller finished the game 26-for-45 for 347 yards and two TD's. In six career starts, Keller for 350 or more yards four times and has thrown a TD in seven straight games.
Richardson Takes One Back: Terry Richardson's 84-yard punt return for a TD in the first quarter marked the first by a Sun Devil player since current St. Louis Ram wide receiver Shaun McDonald had a 78-yarder against USC on Nov. 4, 2000. It was the 10th longest punt return in school history (9th longest for a TD) and the longest by a Sun Devil since Eric Guliford had a 89-yarder against California in 1992. Richardson returned three punts for 111 yards against the Trojans and leads the Sun Devils averaging 16.1 yards per punt return this season. The junior receiver also returned three kickoffs for 107 yards, including a season-high 49-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Stingy In The First Quarter: For the fourth time this season, ASU held its opponent scoreless in the first quarter. ASU has now outscored its opponent 35-7 in the opening frame this season.
Second-Half Eruption: After being held to only three points in the first half, USC erupted for 35 second-half points en route to the 38-28 victory. In the last two weeks, USC has trailed 13-10 (at Oregon) and 21-3 (at ASU), only to come back and outscore its opponent 70-7 in the second half.
Lewis Strikes Again: Jamaal Lewis caught a career-high five passes for 71 yards and one TD. Lewis has caught a TD on five of his 14 receptions this season and nine of 30 for his career. For the season, Lewis is tied for the team lead with Derek Hagan and Keegan Herring with five touchdowns. He is averaging 53.2 yards receiving per game and 19.0 yards per catch (14 catches, 266 yards).
Ainsworth's Big Leg: In five games, junior place kicker Jesse Ainsworth leads the team in scoring with 36 points (2 FG, 30 PAT) and has recorded a touchback on 28 of his 37 kickoffs (4 of 5 vs. USC). Dating back to the 2003 season, Ainsworth has connected on 74 straight PAT attempts and is 30-for-46 (65.2) in his career on field goals.
Up Next -- Oregon Ducks: The Sun Devils stay at home next weekend to host the Oregon Ducks at 7:15 p.m. on FSN. The Sun Devils will be playing their fifth game at Sun Devil Stadium in six contests this season. Oregon defeated Stanford 44-20 to improve to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Pac-10 play. ASU has won three straight games over the Ducks and lead the all-time series 16-9 (8-3 at home).
ASU Notes: With a pair of sacks, the ASU defense has recorded at least one sack in three of the past four games and 10 over the last two games... allowing only three sacks in the first four games, the ASU offensive line gave up a season-high five sacks... redshirt freshman Adam Vincent recorded his first career sack... Chris MacDonald had six punts for 289 yards for a 48.2 average... he booted a season-high 67-yarder and put three punts inside USC's 20-yard-line... freshman tailback Keegan Herring rushed for a team-high 59 yards (15 carries, 3.9 avg.) and rushed for his fifth TD of the year... Herring is now only one TD shy of matching ASU's entire season total of six rushing TD's last season and as a team ASU now has nine rushing TD's... Lee Burghgraef caught his first career touchdown on a one-yard pass from Keller in the fourth quarter... all three of ASU's scoring drives took up less than 2:50 on the clock... ASU has now dropped a pair of games this season after leading at halftime and is 46-7 under Dirk Koetter when leading after half... eight receivers caught at least one pass (led by 10 from Hagan), including the first catch of the season by tailback Randy Hill... ASU's quarterbacks have now completed a pass to 17 different players.
USC Notes: The Trojans punt on their opening drive was only the sixth punt of the season... USC entered the game having punted only four times in the first three games, but was forced to punt seven times vs. the Sun Devils... Tom Malone averaged 44.7 yards per punt and put two inside the 20-yard-line... LenDale White scored rushed for a pair of touchdowns and now has 37 in only 30 career games... the five sacks are the most by an opponent since Stanford recorded six sacks in 2004... LenDale White (197 yards) and Reggie Bush (258 yards) became the first pair of teammates to each rush over a 100 yards against the Sun Devils since Jermaine Lewis (104) and Akili Harris (100) did for UCLA on Sept. 30, 2000.
More USC Notes:
- USC extended its school and Pac-10 record winning streak to 26 games.
- The last time USC did not score a TD in the first half was in 2001 vs. Utah in the Vegas Bowl.
- The last time USC did not score a TD in any half was in 2004 vs. UCLA (second half).
- The 18-point deficit was USC's biggest since 2002 vs. Kansas State (21 points).
- USC's 21-3 deficit at half marked only the fifth time during the 26-game win streak they have trailed at half.
- USC's biggest previous biggest deficit during the win streak was 13 points vs. USC in 2004.
- The win marks USC's biggest comeback since coming from 24-points down vs. Notre Dame in 1974 (55-24 win).
- The 21-3 deficit at halftime marks the biggest since 1998 vs. TCU in the Sun Bowl (also 21-3).
- The 38 points scored are a season low for the Trojans (previous was 45) and extended a streak of five straight games with 35+ points.
- LenDale White recorded his 10th career 100-yard rushing game and second of 2005.
- Reggie Bush recorded his sixth career 100-yard rushing game and third of 2005.