The Trojans came into this game with Stanford hoping to take down a top team and also keep their hopes alive at a Pac-12 Championship game. They still have a small chance after tonights loss but the door is very close to being slammed shut. USC would start off quickly as they would intercept a Stanford pass on their first possession. The Trojans would then go 5 plays and finish on a 1 yard TD run for a 7-0 advantage. The Trojan defense would again come up big on Stanford's next possesion forcing them to a punt. The Trojan offense would start to stutter and would be held to a 3 and out. Stanford would again be stopped and forced to punt, which they would put USC deep in their own territory. On a 3rd and 18 from their own 1 yard line Max Wittek would throw one deep over the middle to have it picked off and returned just outside of the red zone. Stanford would only need 2 plays as they would then tie the score at 7-7. USC again would be unable to get anything going on offense and forced to punt. This time Stanford would score on a 6 play drive for a 14-7 advantage. The Trojans would finally get a break on special teams as Marqise Lee would break a 103 yard kickoff return for a TD to tie it back up at 14-14 going into the half. "Our offense was being suffocated by some very good D," said Coach Dealer, "we really needed to find something to get us going in the 2nd half."
They would definitely not find it early in the 3rd quarter as USC would be held to another 3 and out. The Cardinal would open their first possesion with a 29 yard field goal to go up 17-14. The Trojans would finally get something going on their next possession. They would only need 5 plays as Wittek would connect with Lee on a 29 yard touchdown pass to go up 21-17. Stanford would then go on a 10 play drive taken us into the 4th quarter. They would end the drive on a 5 yard TD pass for a 24-21 advantage. The Trojans offense looked to be clicking really well as they would take the ball deep into Stanford territory with under 2:00 remaining. But an ill advised pass would spell doom as Wittek would throw into coverage. The Trojans would then bust an 85 yard rushing TD while trying to run out the clock. USC would tack on a score with under :30 remaining but the onside kick would go out of bounds ending their hopes at a comeback. "We started getting things going in the 2nd half," said Dealer, "but we made a mistake and it cost us a chance at winning this game."
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