The Trojans hardly had an answer for White, who erupted for 202 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. He also eclipsed 1,000 career rushing yards, a feat he accomplished in the first half of tonight's game.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound back earned the Sun Devils' sixth 200-yard rushing game in Pac-10/12 play. They were also the most for a Sun Devil rusher against the Trojans since J.R. Redmond's 214-yard effort on October 3, 1998.
1??K career rushing yards.
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 7, 2021
Congrats, Rachaad. ?? pic.twitter.com/CW5fihBZdJ
SUN DEVIL PAC-10/12 200-YARD RUSHING GAMES
312-Eno Benjamin vs. Oregon State (Sept. 29, 2018)
226-Delvon Flowers vs. Oregon State (Oct. 20, 2001)
214-J.R. Redmond at USC (Oct. 3, 1998)
214-Mario Bates vs. Washington (Sept. 5, 1992)
208-Robert Weathers vs. California (Oct. 17, 1981)
202-Rachaad White vs. USC (Nov. 6, 2021)
The Sun Devil defense never wavered. Entering Tempe as the Pac-12's highest passing offense at 315.2 yards per game, the Devils prevented the Trojans from finding any semblance of rhythm. Kedon Slovis threw for 131 yards and one interception and his counterpart, Jaxson Dart, threw for only 89 with an interception.
The Trojans found the end zone just once, on a second quarter rushing touchdown, and added a trio of field goals the rest of the way. USC, who had scored at least 26 points in seven of eight games this year, tied a season-low of 16 tonight.
White's career night served as a slump-buster for the Sun Devils, who picked up a much-needed win. It's the second time they've beaten both USC and UCLA in the same season in the Herm Edwards era and an occurrence that's happened just four times in the Pac-12 era prior to Edwards' tenure (1986, 1996, 1999, 2013).
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
Chip Trayanum provided the only points of the quarter when he scampered into the end zone for a 14-yard score to put ASU up 7-0. Trayanum's touchdown capped the Sun Devils' 12-play, 94-yard drive that lasted nearly six minutes. The Trojans, owners of the best passing offense in the Pac-12, tossed for just 68 yards in the first 15 minutes of play. The Sun Devil defense, which has forced 52 turnovers since 2019 entering the night, tallied another in the first via a Kyle Soelle interception.
SECOND QUARTER
After the Trojans claimed their first lead of the game, thanks to a 38-yard field goal by Parker Lewis then a 9-yard touchdown run by Jaxson Dart, Rachaad White took over on the ensuing drive. White picked up 73 yards on back-to-back plays, on a 26-yard reception where he slipped past multiple Trojans then a terrific 47-yard run for a touchdown. The score pushed the Sun Devils ahead again, 14-10, a lead they would carry into halftime.
Big time player, big time plays.
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 7, 2021
?? @3_chaad pic.twitter.com/b9agGQwqhl
White, who entered the night needing 97 rushing yards to reach 1,000 on his career, eclipsed that mark in the first half after he ran for 102.
THIRD QUARTER
Christian Zendejas chipped in a 29-yard field goal on the Sun Devils' opening drive of the second half, widening the Sun Devils lead to 17-10. Lewis inched the Trojans closer by connecting on two long field goals, one from 45 and another from 52, that sliced the Sun Devil lead to 17-16. Outside of trading field goals, both offenses were stagnant for much of the third.
FOURTH QUARTER
Rachaad White was a man on a mission the entire second half. He took one straight up the gut, juked past a Trojan and snuck beyond the secondary for a 50-yard touchdown run, giving the Sun Devils their largest lead of the game, 24-16, with 8:13 remaining. On the Sun Devils' next drive, he fought his way in from seven yards out for his third score of the game.
Hall of Famer in the building. ????
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 7, 2021
Congrats to David Fulcher on being included in the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class! pic.twitter.com/TMR0dwDWMC
Next up for the Sun Devils is a Nov. 13 tilt at Washington at 4 p.m. PT/5 p.m. MT.