From the USC pre-game Press Release:
The Trojans sport a veteran, stingy, ball-hawking defense-it ranks in the national Top 10 in every statistical catergory-led by Butkus Award candidates Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing at linebacker and Thorpe Award nominees Taylor Mays (a 2007 All-American first teamer) and Kevin Ellison at safety, plus forceful DT Fili Moala and always- around-the-ball LB-DE Clay Matthews. QB Mark Sanchez-the Pac-10's most efficient passer- has already thrown 7 touchdowns and has earned Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors following both of his 2008 outings. USC's corps of versatile tailbacks features regulars Joe McKnight (coming off a 105-yard outing versus Ohio State), C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson and Allen Bradford. Troy's much-improved receiving corps includes the likes of WRs Damian Williams (he had 2 TD grabs versus the Buckeyes), Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton and Ronald Johnson.
Well guess what.
A 5'6" true freshman running back just made your defense look silly.
Jacquizz ended up with 186 yards on 37 carries, with his longest run being only 15 yards. And most of those runs were straight up the gut-- between the tackles.
"I just hid behind the line. I'm a small dude. They couldn't find me."
* * *
The Beavers set the tone on the opening kickoff, when freshman Brandon Hardin punished C.J. Gable at the 16 yard line. From there, the Trojans went three and out, giving the Beavers the ball at their own 40.
Jacquizz's older brother James got into the end zone first, but it wasn't before Quizz rushed for 27 yards on four carries during OSU's opening drive. I'm not sure if James did in fact get in, but here is Mike Parker's reaction to the final decision of the officials:
From there, the Trojans again went three and out, but the Beaver offense couldn't get within reasonable field goal range. Johnny Hekker's punt was downed inside the ten yard line, and the Beavers again held the Trojans to only one first down on the ensuing drive. The USC punt was recovered by the Beavers at the 38 yard line.
Jacquizz rushed for 46 yards on this drive, and Moevao hooked up with Sammie Stroughter for a big 14 yard third down conversion. With 1st and Goal at the 2, Moevao handed to Jacquizz, and....
Following that touchdown, Mark Sanchez and company tacked up a few big plays, but that all went down the drain on 3rd and 6 with 5:12 remaining in the half:
Oregon State took possession of at their own 42, but Quizz quickly changed that with four consecutive runs for 18 total yards. On 3rd and 7, Moevao hooked up with Stroughter over the middle for a first down, and two plays later dumped a pass off to Quizz that went for 17 yards. With the clock ticking under 0:30 left in the half, Moevao dropped back to pass from the USC 3:
That play brought us to halftime, with the Beavers leading the Trojans 21-0. Whatever Pete Carroll and his staff did at halftime appeared to work, as USC scored quickly within the first five minutes of the second half. Oregon State got the football back following the touchdown, and while only getting one first down, managed to take over four minutes off the clock. The Trojans got the ball back at their thirty and drove down the field again for a quick touchdown, making the score 21-14.
In the fourth quarter, neither team ran more than six consecutive plays, and both teams punted three times. Oregon State had a field goal opportunity with 6:42 remaining in the game, but Matt Barker's attempt was blocked.
Johnny Hekker's final punt of the game was downed at the USC 2, where the Trojans took over trailing by a touchdown. On the first play of that drive, Sanchez found Ronald Johnson for a 12 yard completion on a first down, and on second down he looked to the air again:
After Laybourn rumbled down to the two yard line, the Beavers went to the bread and butter:
Matt Barker's extra point clanked off the left upright, which didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but it became a big deal when Ronald Johnson returned Barker's kickoff 50 yards. It only took the Trojans three pass plays to score, and the Beavers would end up clinging to a six point lead.
The USC onside kick went into the hands of BtD favorite Taylor Kavanaugh, giving Oregon State possession of the football with 1:19 left on the clock. Watch that recovery and the final OSU possession below:
...and the party began in Corvallis.
GO BEAVERS!