Quotes: USC 31, Arizona State 26
Arizona State Head Coach Herm Edwards
On QB Joey Yellen and the team’s performance overall:
“Well I thought he did a great job of playing against a talented group of defensive players from USC. Four touchdown passes, it’s the first time he’s ever played a college game and to do that, I give him a lot of credit. When I look at the game, it’s like a game of two halves. The first half we just broke down in the secondary too many times big play after big play and spotted them points. Then we decided to rally again and we fell a little short. That’s what I told the team today: We have to learn to how to play a whole football game, not half a football game.”
On his takeaways from the game:
“We felt like we could do something on kickoffs. The problem is, you don’t want them kicking the ball to us because that means they’re scoring. That’s the crazy part about all of that. There are some things that we’ll take away that were very good, that were positive, but we have to clean up the negative things if we’re going to win a football game again.”
“We got a couple of them called back. We had a couple big plays called back because of fouls. That’s a shame and that’s what gets you. When you make mistakes and you drop passes and you get penalties like that they catch up to you.”
Arizona State QB Joey Yellen
On playing with a huge deficit in his first career start:
“I think (Mike Bercovici) put it best when he just said to keep playing. Not with me out there, but we dug ourselves out of some holes, not just this year, but last year as well. This team has dealt with adversity, so I don’t think there was ever any panic. They got off to a hot start, but I thought defense responded really well and they gave us a lot of opportunities and we just have to execute and score on some of those opportunities that we got.”
On when he knew he was starting and how he prepared:
“I had a pretty good idea Tuesday and during that it was like you were playing barring some miraculous healing or something. I got the full week to prepare and I felt that they prepared me well and that a lot of the reads were there. There are a couple throws I want to have back for sure, but I felt like we had a good plan headed into this and we executed it for the most part. There were just a few plays that we kind of left out there.”
On what he thought went well in the game:
“I think (Frank Darby and Brandon Aiyuk) definitely played an unbelievable game. (They) definitely stayed in it. We had some adversity and all that, but there were a couple times where the game kind of came down to them - if (USC) is bringing pressure and (Darby and Aiyuk) have their isolation matchups out there and they were exactly where they were supposed to be each time. There were some times where I can throw it and I don’t even know 100 percent if they’re going to be there, but they always got to the right spots and ran really good routes, made some big plays for sure. So I thought we did really well in that regard. Also, I think that our line played a really good game. I thought we had a good plan coming into it with a lot of quick game and that sort of thing. Got the ball out quick, so I didn’t really get touched a lot. So I thought they played really well as well.”
Arizona State WR Frank Darby
On his thoughts about today’s game:
“It’s just a little hump, I feel like we are stuck right now and we just really need to get over this hump. I don’t know if it’s because of the bye week, I don’t know if it’s the time we get off, I don’t know. But it’s just something we have to fix, I felt like we were ready for this game and I felt like we pushed every day for it and we came out here and it was just like the UCLA game. We didn’t expect them to do that. We just need to keep picking each other up and it can’t be just one person giving energy, we need everyone to give energy. I don’t know if it’s the energy, I don’t know if people are getting on each other, I don’t know what it is. It’s something that we have to get over and figure it out so we don’t lose anymore games. We have three more games left and we have to get them. This was not the season we were expecting and we didn’t work this hard to come out like this.”
On what he thought went well in the game:
“Quarterback play. We came in and we were a little nervous at first given that Joey (Yellen) had not really taken that (many) reps in practice. When we found out he was going, it was like ‘Alright, it’s time. Next man up.’ Jayden (Daniels) was down, next man up, do what we do. Joey (Yellen) came out and did an outstanding job in my opinion. Everybody ate, he was feeding everybody. (He was) scanning the field, (the offensive) line was protecting him. I just feel like we had a complete game. If we (subtract) the penalties that brought plays back, that could’ve been a blowout. The game would have been over and we’d have ended their season and it would’ve been over. Other than that, we just have to minus the little errors that we keep doing on huge plays. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot and once we get out of that, this team would just be going. It’s all over. Backups coming in and doing what they have to do. It’s just frustrating. We worked so hard for two weeks. Two weeks we were putting the work in and we come out and fall short again. But on to the next one and we have to keep going.”
Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk
On his thoughts about today’s game:
“We are losing to teams that we are better than. We are better than that team out there, we are better than the last few teams we lost to, so that’s where most of the frustration is coming from.”
On what he thought went well in the game:
“Quarterback play, just going out there in his first start. First play of the game, he gave me a hand signal to go deep; he wanted to take the top off the first play of the game. We were just on the same page throughout the game. He hit Frank (Darby) I think twice on plays that we’ve been successful on throughout the year with Jayden (Daniels) and (Joey Yellen) came in and completed those same things, so quarterback play.”
Arizona State DB Evan Fields
On if the game plan changed when USC’s backup quarterback Matt Fink came in:
“It’s USC so it’s probably a five-star (recruit) coming into the game anyway, so we just go out there and keep playing. Their offense is not going to change just because of the QB. They have great athletes on the edge. I feel like that’s where the strongest part of their team is, so the game plan really didn’t change.”
On what contributed to the slow start on defense in the first quarter:
“I feel like just being the start of the game, all the nerves, we come out timid and we don’t let loose really until we get the feel of it, but you can’t play like that. When we came out at Michigan State we came out on fire and other games that we won. We have to bring that same play to the field.”
USC Head Coach Clay Helton
Opening statement:
“Really proud of our kids with a lot of bodies down, a lot of bodies that didn’t start, and then losing bodies during the game. Not only did they fight on, but they fought on to victory and that’s our motto. They found a way to get it done.”
On Arizona State’s defense:
“Credit to Arizona State, I thought they brought every pressure known to man. They were trying to get the quarterback and the offensive line did an unbelievable job holding up under duress.”
On the offensive production:
“It was an explosive offense tonight and we ended up over 500 yards and we really started fast. I’d like to be a little bit more consistent in the second half but we’ll get that ironed out before Cal.”
On the final defensive interception:
“We talked about it this week, you know these three games last year were the difference in doing something better last season and this was one of them. To come on the road, down bodies, and those kids find a way to win and your captain makes the final play, it’s special. That’s what captains do. They don’t wait for other people to make it happen, they make it happen and I thought it was a very special moment for Christian (Rector).”
USC QB Kedon Slovis:
On the first quarter momentum:
“It was a lot of fun. It showed what we can do with this offense when we execute. Later in the game, we did not execute as well. When we execute and everyone does their job, that is what it can look like."
On returning to Arizona:
“It was great. I have family and friends in the crowd. Being in an environment that I have been playing in my whole life made it cool to come back.”
On the throw to Amon-Ra St. Brown:
“I had a good option on that play, either way I would have went. I worked towards (Michael) Pittman, the safety widened, and Amon (Ra St. Brown) ran by the middle safety. He made a great play. I just gave it to him. You do not expect him to make a 95-yard reception. It was a great play."
USC DL Christian Rector
On importance of sealing win:
“It was huge. Now we are bowl eligible. It is a big deal, especially after last year. Getting this win is important, especially going forward trying to get these next two.”
On the interception during the final defensive series:
“I came free off the edge and I knew the ball was going to be coming out. I saw it come out, tipped it, and called game.”