USC two-quarterback experiment falters in loss to Arizona State

TEMPE, Ariz. — USC played with uncharacteristic subject for implicit 3 quarters against Arizona State connected Saturday. But the Trojans regressed astatine the worst imaginable moment.

Trailing by 1 successful the 4th quarter, USC looked arsenic if it had gotten the Sun Devils disconnected the tract arsenic backmost Jayden Daniels was pushed retired of bounds connected 3rd down. But a yellowish emblem laic connected the other broadside of the tract from wherever Daniels had tally the ball.

Cornerback Chris Steele was caught holding his man, gifting Arizona State a archetypal down. Two plays later, moving backmost Rachaad White weaved done Trojans similar postulation cones for a 50-yard touchdown.

Meanwhile, the Trojans’ two-quarterback strategy stumbled arsenic the USC (4-5, 3-4 successful Pac-12 play) fell to the Sun Devils 31-16.

Neither Kedon Slovis nor Jaxson Dart getting a bushed and the 2 combining for 3 consecutive three-and-outs successful the 2nd half. The 2 combined for 220 passing yards; Slovis went 16-for-28 for 131 yards, portion Dart was 8-for-17 for 89. Neither threw for a touchdown, but some threw interception.

In the archetypal half, Slovis — elevated to skipper without the injured Drake London — started and took the second, 5th and sixth series. Dart came successful for Drives 3 and 4.

Neither backmost was peculiarly effective. Whether due to the fact that of the on-again, off-again strategy oregon due to the fact that of the lack of the nation’s apical receiver, Slovis completed 11 of 21 passes for 89 yards and interception portion Dart went 3-6 for 24.

Both of Dart’s first-half drives ended successful points, some aided by Arizona State penalties connected 3rd down to determination the chains. One of those mistakes took a Dart interception into the extremity portion disconnected the board, resulting successful the freshman QB moving into the extremity portion from 9 yards out, flipping it up similar a digit rotation successful celebration.

It gave USC a 10-7 lead, but immoderate momentum gained was rapidly erased by the defence arsenic Arizona State went connected a three-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Running backmost Rachaad White caught a second-down walk astatine the enactment of scrimmage and was instantly hit, yet inactive took the shot 26 yards successful a existent indictment of USC’s tackling.

The adjacent play was a handoff to White, and helium went 47 yards, dragging information Calen Bullock into the extremity portion for a 14-10 pb that Arizona State would instrumentality into halftime.

White finished the crippled with 202 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.

Slovis started the 2nd fractional for USC. He completed 3 passes arsenic USC marched for a tract goal, past promptly was replaced by Dart.

The freshman, successful his 2nd crippled since meniscus surgery, inactive showed signs of his rust. His down-field throws were typically off-target and helium went 2-for-5 successful 3 third-quarter drives.

So Slovis got the motion arsenic the hot-hand successful the 4th fourth with the crippled connected the line. But the two-quarterback strategy meant that helium went astir an full 4th without crippled snaps and helium showed it, finishing the 4th fourth 2-for-4.