Trojans Trample Huskers
8 comments so far
September 16, 2007 by
In a game where much of the college football watching world tuned in to watch, there was not too much competitive football to be seen in the second half of USC's game with Nebraska. The Trojans struck early for a lead. They also responded to 10 unanswered points by Nebraska with 35 more of their own to push their advantage to 42-10. Nebraska showed good heart in never giving up and scoring 21 4th-quarter points. But that was far too little, far too late for NU. The top-ranked Trojan's looked every bit as good as they were billed to be, and prevailed 49-31.
The story of the game was USC's rushing offense. All told, Trojan rushers accounted for 313 yards on the ground. They were led by Stafon Johnson's 144 yards (on just 11 carries) and CJ Gable's 69 yards on 4 carries. Fullback Stanley Havili added 52 yards rushing and a score. Havili also caught a touchdown. It was a workman-like effort for quarterback John David Booty, who went 19-30 for 144 yards and two scores.
The real juggernaut of USC's offense is their offensive line. USC backs had enormous running lanes and Booty had ample time to throw as the Trojan work horses dominated NU's front 7.
On the Nebraska side of the offensive slate, balance was nowhere to be found. The Huskers threw early to stay in the ballgame, as Sam Keller connected on 15 of his first 20 passes, for 152 yards. NU's early attempts to run were met with staunch resistance from a defense led by great linebackers and the un-blockable Sedrick Ellis. And, as the game got out of hand in the third quarter, NU had to keep the ball in the air and the statistics bore that out.
Keller threw the ball 54 times, completing 36 of them for 389 yards and two touchdowns. Two Keller interceptions early in the third quarter were major contributors to the blowout. Nine Husker players caught passes from Keller, led by Purify's seven catches for 80 yards. Todd Peterson is credited with both touchdowns among his five catches for 74 yards. Both scores came in the fourth quarter, when the game outcome was not in doubt.
From here, Nebraska will host Ball State next week in Lincoln. The Cardinals won over Navy in overtime this week, 34-31. USC plays host to Pac 10 conference foe Washington State next week.
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eric Sep 16 07
has callahan said why he stopped throwing the quick slants after the field goal? USC's o-line was staggeringly good. 96 yards on 4 plays. good lord I felt like Roberto Duran, no mas.
Andrew Sep 16 07
Darren,
I knew we had nothing to stop USC from running the ball straight up the middle, this is probably the worst Husker D-line ever (can you tell me a worse one)? The worst thing is I don't really think we have that many players behind them that are much better. Horrible showing for the defense, I don't think I could be more dissapointed with them. I can only think of one game where the Husker played that bad, and I think the final score to that game was 62-36. This game was like an exact replica of the Colorado game in 01. Lets just hope we do not play this bad against Ball ST.
Nick Sep 16 07
Honestly guys, I didn't walk away from that game thinking the outcome was NU's fault for playing terribly. After watching what their O-line did in the second quarter after that long lay-off due to injury, frankly I just realized how dominant USC was. I had hopes we would match up, but I don't think we touched any of their quarterbacks once, save a couple of hurries which was fueled by the momentum in the first quarter. Their lines are just as real as everyone said, and I think the thing to walk away from with here is that NU got attacked like USC was playing a bowl-game, and this is what USC can do to an overmatched team with plenty of time for preparation and all of their steam and focus. It was awe-inspiring (and terrible).
OU7times Sep 16 07
I just wanted to chime in with my opinion here. Bravo Coach Callahan! You showed me alot in this game and The Huskers showed ALOT of heart. Cudos to the team, also. OU fell to USC (hard) in the Ntl Championship game, in the recent past,and NU had alot better showing in this game than OU did. Honestly, could any team last a full game against their offensive line? Those guys are just brutal. I think there is no question that NU will be representing the Big 12 North again this season. Your defense needs a bit of work but they will gel when it counts, count on it.
Andrew Sep 16 07
At Nebraska you don't go for moral victories. We use to be USC, but we are all madd because it does not even seem like we are close to that at all!
OU7times Sep 16 07
I don't think anyone is really talking moral victories here. "Moral victories" are for people (fans) who can't accept that they lost to a better team.
Andrew Sep 16 07
O we lost, we lost. I don't think loosing and getting you _ _ _ handed to you are the same thing. Are defense was horrible, but in the end like they say it not about X's and O's it about Jimmies and Joes.
James Moore Sep 19 07
Not only did I wait a few days to post but watched the game again twice. Like everyone else I felt like I got punched in the stomach. The bad was the tackling. Gosh the tackling technique needs to get much better. The D-Line did get blasted but honestly I'm not so sure that USC won't do that to anyone else. Keller is a gamer and I couldn't help
but marvel at USC's ability to scheme in the 2nd half on the quick digs and slants (i.e. D-Line getting their hands up knowing that Ellis would make his presence felt on every play) & the zone blitz that resulted in the 2nd pick was further proof of that. The good, WE DID NOT QUIT!!! We'll be OK but my true concern is that we seem to have difficulty with gap-control, assigment football at times on defense. Along with the tackling that must be improved. The bottom line is Texas is still plagued by busted coverages, mediocore LB play, and we should do much better down in Austin than we might've expected back in July. Missouri's offense is suddendly scary again, and with the game in Columbia an even more difficult prospect. We can still win the North and get back to the Conference Championship game. A lot of time will pass between now and then, and we should be a much better football team because of this game.