GAME THREAD: Arizona at USC

Matt Moreno · Oct 30, 2021

It's once again game day for Arizona. The Wildcats are on the road today against USC for a daytime matchup with the Trojans. UA is still seeking its first win since 2019 and its first victory under head coach Jedd Fisch. The Wildcats have not been able to win at the Coliseum since 2009 but that have been some competitive games since that time including a 3-point win for the Wildcats in Tucson back in 2012.

I'll have updates from the press box here in Los Angeles, so feel free to join the conversation throughout the afternoon.

GAME INFO

Who: Arizona (0-7, 0-4 Pac-12; last game: 21-16 loss to UW) vs USC (3-4, 2-3; last game: 31-16 loss to Notre Dame)
When: 4:00 p.m. MST
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Los Angeles, California
TV: ESPNU
All-time series: Washington leads 36-8 | Last meeting (11.14.20): USC win 34-30
Favorite: Washington (-21.5), O/U 55.5

PREGAME

- Arizona looks like it will have a couple more players available after dealing with injuries. Safety Gunner Maldonado went through warmups with the rest of the team as did offensive lineman Josh Donovan. Maldonado missed last week's game while Donovan has missed the last two with a leg injury. Both players are not expected to start with Jaydin Young and Josh Baker expected to start in their places today, respectively.

- Starting defensive lineman Kyon Barrs is out for the Wildcats as he continues to deal with a leg injury. He was doubtful coming into today's game.

- Quarterback Jordan McCloud made the trip with the Wildcats to support the team after his recent surgery. He's in a walking boot as he recovers from ankle surgery.

FIRST HALF

- Coin toss: Arizona wins & defers

Drive #1 (USC/own 25)

Key plays

• Isaiah Rutherford hit with a pass interference to move USC down the field

• On a 12-yard completion from Kedon Slovis to Tahj Washington, Jaxen Turner is called for targeting and is disqualified after a review. It also gives USC 15 more yards

• Slovis hits Drake London for a 15-yard gain

• Keaontay Ingram picks up 3 yards up the middle for a score

SCORE UPDATE: USC - 7 Arizona - 0 | 11:23

Drive #2 (Arizona/own 25)

Key plays

• Jamarye Joiner finds Tayvian Cunningham on the third play of the drive on a big 73-yard completion that goes for a touchdown as the UA receiver hits on a big pass play

SCORE UPDATE: Arizona - 7 USC - 7 | 10:31

Drive #3 (USC/own 25)

Key plays

• Slovis hits London over the middle for a 13-yard gain

• Slovis goes deep over the middle and finds Gary Bryant Jr. for a 62-yard touchdown play

SCORE UPDATE: USC - 14 Arizona - 7 | 9:53

Drive #4 (Arizona/own 25)

Key plays

• Will Plummer finds Stanley Berryhill III for a 5-yard gain

• Joiner loses 3 yards on a rush attempt

• Plummer sacked for a loss of 8 on 3rd down forcing a punt

Drive #5 (USC/own 23)

Key plays

• Slovis finds London on back to back plays for 17 yards total

• Slovis hits Kyle Ford for a 14-yard gain on a pass play

• Ingram picks up 29 yards on a play to the left side

• Paris Shand, who is in for the injured Mo Diallo who limped off the field, comes up with a sack to take USC out of field goal range. The Trojans punt it away.

Drive #6 (Arizona/own 20)

Key plays

• Michael Wiley goes up the middle on the ground for 4 yards

END OF THE 1ST QUARTER

• Jedd Fisch dials up a fake punt and Anthony Pandy picks up 32 yards on a carry for the Wildcats to extend the drive

• Plummer finds Dorian Singer for a 19-yard gain on a connection over the middle

• Stevie Rocker Jr.'s 20-yard rush is negated by a holding penalty on Jordan Morgan

• Plummer is sacked on 3rd down and the Wildcats have to punt

Drive #7 (USC/own 4)

Key plays

• Ingram picks up 13 yards on a run to the right side and he's dinged up after being tackled by Jaydin Young

• Jaxson Dart is in at QB for the Trojans and he finds London for 10 yards and a 1st down

• Dart hits Washington for a 17-yard gain on Isaiah Rutherford in coverage

• Dart goes back to Washington and Rutherford is now called for a pass interference moving the chains again

• Dart hits London for 12 yards

• Dart hits London for a 2-yard gain and a touchdown to extend the lead

SCORE UPDATE: USC - 21 Arizona - 7 | 7:59

Drive #8 (Arizona/own 25)

Key plays

• Plummer hits Berryhill for a 10-yard gain

• Plummer finds TE Alex Lines for a 19-yard connection

• Plummer hits BJ Casteel for an 8-yard pass play but Casteel fumbles after Isaiah Pola-Mao punches the ball loose

Drive #9 (USC/own 38)

Key plays

• Dart hits Washington for 11 yards to open the drive

• UA safety Jaydin Young is hit with a pass interference penalty on a ball intended for Malcom Epps

• Dart finds Washington for another chunk play that goes for 19 yards

• Dart hits London for a 6-yard touchdown but the USC receiver is injured on the tackle from Christian Roland-Wallace and has to be carted off the field

SCORE UPDATE: USC - 28 Arizona - 7 | 4:16

Drive #10 (Arizona/own 25)

Key plays

• In one of the most bizarre plays you'll see, Tayvian Cunningham has a 72-yard touchdown wiped away after the play is called back because the UA receiver had his helmet ripped off on a facemask call. Instead he picks up 35 yards

• Plummer hits Lines for a 29-yard connection on a really tough play for the UA tight end to put UA at the 1-yard line

• Michael Wiley runs it in from 1 yard out for a touchdown

SCORE UPDATE: USC - 28 Arizona - 14 | 2:36

Drive #11 (USC/own 25)

Key plays

• Ingram picks up 13 yards rushing on the first play of the drive for USC

• Ingram adds 11 more yards on the ground

• Slovis, who is back in for Dart on this drive, hits Washington for 9 yards and a first down

• Slovis finds Bryant for a 2nd time in this game for a touchdown from 15 yards out

SCORE UPDATE: USC - 35 Arizona - 14 | 0:32

Drive #12 (Arizona/own 16)

Key plays

• Jalen John picks up 6 yards on the ground on the first play

• Plummer takes it himself and picks up 18 yards on a rushing play to end the half

HALFTIME

USC - 35

Arizona - 14

Matt Moreno · Oct 30, 2021