Caleb Williams to Jordan Addison TD will save USC vs. Oregon State: 'It feels damn good'

The trap was laid, just like it experienced been quite a few times in advance of. Another USC soccer group with title possible driving towards destiny, only to get a risky detour by means of the Willamette Valley to Oregon Condition, wherever almost nothing at any time looks to go as planned for the Trojans.

It’d been a 10 years considering that their last defeat here, but the specter of individuals ill-fated visits nonetheless loomed, years of lousy voodoo coursing via these half-completed bleachers. The four horrible turnovers in 2006. The Jacquizz Rodgers video game in 2008. Equally losses stunningly slammed the door on the Trojans’ nationwide title hopes, leaving USC haunted about what could possibly have been.

Individuals devastating disappointments seemed a fitting prelude as No. 7 USC entered Saturday’s remaining Pac-12 journey to Corvallis with identical, sky-superior buzz, soaring up the polls and into the playoff conversation, only to operate headlong into a brick wall against the Beavers.

In some way, some way, the Trojans managed to arise unscathed, escaping with a 17-14 victory that would exorcise their demons and keep their undefeated start intact.

“We found a way,” USC mentor Lincoln Riley reported, “and it feels damn very good.”

Before its last, previous-ditch generate, little appeared to be functioning for USC. An offense that appeared unstoppable via a few games abruptly couldn’t go the ball. And quarterback Caleb Williams, right after a stellar start out to the year, was coming apart at the seams.

If not for its protection, which tallied four takeaways for the 3rd time in four months, USC by no means would have retained it with each other extensive enough. But just after a prolonged, unattractive evening, it all arrived down to the star quarterback, who experienced one fortuitous probability to wipe away all that had occur ahead of.

“Some days you are not likely to be at your ideal,” Riley stated. “Some points are not likely to go your way, and how you react in those people moments is what separates you. I just reminded [Williams], we have been by these when he was young.”
It was a precarious generate nonetheless. A single move dropped. Then an additional. Faced with a do-or-die fourth down, Williams rumbled forward himself, just barely acquiring the to start with-down marker as his offensive linemen pushed him in advance with all their could possibly. Little bit by bit, USC clawed its way down the subject.

Then, with a little far more than a moment remaining, Williams noticed Jordan Addison streaking alongside the sideline and permit it rip. The ball arrived just in time, missing a sprinting safety and acquiring Addison in fantastic place for a 21-lawn, go-in advance score.

“It was a great ball, ideal into my chest,” Addison explained. “Touchdown. Ballgame.”

That 11-engage in landing travel proved just more than enough, many thanks largely to USC and its opportunistic protection, which reeled in a fourth and final interception, courtesy of Max Williams, to put absent Oregon State (3-1, -1 Pac-12) in the final seconds.

“The 4 turnovers, the enormous stops, closing the sport, you cannot say enough about how we played defensively,” Riley explained. “You just can not. A good deal of fellas stepped up, performed as a result of a ton of items. It was a gutsy effectiveness.”

USC quarterback Caleb Williams passes in opposition to Oregon Condition in the next fifty percent Saturday.

(Amanda Loman / Related Push)

Oregon Condition jogging back again Deshaun Fenwick scores a touchdown as he’s tackled by USC’s Eric Gentry (18) and Anthony Beavers Jr. through the 1st fifty percent.

(Amanda Loman / Associated Press)

USC (4-, 2-) didn’t have a turnover for the fourth consecutive match but tried out to give away the recreation on many occasions. Williams put collectively possibly the most woebegone energy of his college profession, finishing 16 for 36 for 180 yards and a touchdown.

If it weren’t for a Herculean hard work from Travis Dye, who racked up 133 yards and a landing in 19 carries, it is unclear no matter whether USC’s offense would’ve been ready to move the ball at all.

Saturday night time did not start out off on the appropriate foot. Just after a 36-lawn scamper by Dye, USC arrived up empty on its upcoming three performs, then fell shorter on fourth down for the 1st time this time. It also was the 1st opening travel that didn’t yield a landing for the Trojans under Riley.

Their 2nd push was not a lot superior. Dye dragged USC’s offense down the field mostly by himself, even though the Trojans struggled to come across any semblance of rhythm. Via two drives, Dye experienced 70 yards although Williams had completed just 1 of six passes for 11 yards. Both USC possessions were fruitless, as Denis Lynch missed a 35-property subject-aim attempt.

USC functioning back Travis Dye slips a tackle by Oregon Point out defensive back again Kitan Oladapo for the duration of the to start with fifty percent.

(Amanda Loman / Involved Press)

Before long ample, the Trojans had been trailing for the initial time this period, as Deshaun Fenwick barreled into the end zone for a four-yard score.

Faced with its 1st major dose of adversity, USC’s commonly dynamic offense looked out of types. Seemingly basic throws from Williams sailed substantial, dove into the filth or arrived late and driving his receivers. The quarterback finished the initial 50 percent just six for 18 for 64 yards, his worst 50 percent of the year.

A takeaway briefly saved USC from a crushing momentum swing late in the next quarter as Eric Gentry picked off Beavers quarterback Opportunity Nolan. The Trojans were being ready to muster just ample to get Lynch into array for a 42-property industry objective, the only points of the 50 % for a person of the nation’s greatest-scoring offenses.

There would be no magic elixir for what ailed USC’s offense awaiting in the locker space. Upon their return, the Trojans despatched the kickoff out of bounds. They fumbled inside of their individual a person-property line on the ensuing possession. When USC discovered a way to transfer the ball, Williams took a third-down sack that knocked the Trojans out of field-goal vary.

It took yet another significant engage in from USC’s protection to get back in striking distance, as Ceyair Wright picked off Nolan to give the Trojans the ball with just 26 yards to go. They practically squandered that possibility way too, right until Dye broke by a crowd on fourth and two and scored.

That score for a 10-7 lead early in the fourth appeared like it could possibly spark the Trojans. In particular as the Beavers skipped a industry aim and Mekhi Blackmon additional his very own select on their following drive. But Williams and Co. stalled once again inside their very own five, and a 33-lawn punt put Oregon Condition back in prime place.

It took two performs for Oregon Condition to capitalize with an 18-yard touchdown operate by Jam Griffin. But it wouldn’t be sufficient, as USC’s protection clamped down, and its offense located a way to escape.

“That’s exactly where you different your self,” Riley explained. “Really great groups come across a way, no issue what the situation.

“We identified a way tonight.”