Relive the 2013 regular season as we spend the next 13 days counting down toward the team’s departure to San Diego. Every day, from Dec. 12 through Dec. 24, we will take a unique look back at all 13 games this year. Visit thesundevils.com as well as all of Sun Devil Athletics’ social media outlets daily.
Game Three - Stanford
Sun Devils Set Offensive Records In Rout Over USC
Arizona State 62, USC 41
Sept. 28, 2013, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Arizona State running back Marion Grice scored four touchdowns, including two on passes from quarterback Taylor Kelly, and ASU used consecutive big plays in the third quarter to race past Southern California 62-41 on Saturday night.
The Sun Devils scored 62 points, the most points ASU has ever put up against USC and tied for the most ever scored against the Trojans. ASU also put up 612 yards of total offense, the most in a conference game since recording 667 yards against Oregon in 2000.
Grice ended the night with four touchdowns, his second four-touchdown game this season, to up his total to 12 in four games. Kelly went 23-for-34 with 351 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for a team-high 79 yards. Safety Alden Darby had two interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and linebacker Chris Young led the defense with 10 tackles for the second consecutive game.
The Sun Devils trailed by 1 after USC opened the third quarter with a quick scoring drive, but ASU ran away from the Trojans after that, scoring a pair of touchdowns just 47 seconds apart.
Kelly orchestrated the first, hitting running back D.J. Foster in stride for a 74-yard touchdown pass, and Darby was next, stepping in front of a pass by USC quarterback Cody Kessler for a 46-yard interception return that put the Sun Devils up, 34-21.
Running backs Tre Madden and Justin Davis each scored three touchdowns to lead USC, but ASU’s defense held the Trojans to just 87 receiving yards in juxtaposition to ASU’s 211. Reigning All-American USC receiver Marqise Lee was essentially a non-factor in the first half thanks to the defensive efforts of linebacker Carl Bradford and Darby.
A school-record 14,118 student tickets were sold for the game, which was the second annual Maroon Monsoon.
The Trojans’ defeat led to the firing of head coach Lane Kiffin, which was announced by the school Sunday morning.
The Sun Devils hung a school-record 62 points on the Trojans as redshirt junior quarterback Taylor Kelly orchestrated an offense that tallied 612 total yards.
Senior safety Alden Darby returned one of his two interceptions on the night 46 yards for a touchdown, marking the second consecutive game Darby has recorded an interception return for a touchdown against USC.
