Trojans Flex Muscles Against Pitt Panthers

#25 Pittsburgh (Green) – 14
#8 USC – 38

LOS ANGELES --  USC's C.J. Gable set the tone for their second round match up against the Pitt Panthers by taking the kick off 79-yards for a touchdown. As the Panthers tried to regroup, Dion Lewis fumbled the football which was recovered by Everson Griffin for a 59-yard touchdown. After going down 14-0 without the Trojan offense seeing the field, Pittsburgh QB Bill Stull lead his team down the field for a 26-yard touchdown pass to Johnathan Baldwin.

Pitt's special teams took a different approach to the next kick by pooching the ball. The USC offense took the field with a 14-7 lead and decided that they were going to run with ball with their runningbacks C.J. Gable and Joe McKnight. The two runningbacks led the Trojans to the 26-yard line, where Aaron Corp finally threw his first pass of the day.  Corp found Damien Williams, who has developed into a favorite target this tournament, for a 26-yard touchdown. The Trojan lead was pushed to 21-7 at the half.

The Trojan defense continued their dominance, although showing some dirty play, in the second half. The undisciplined squad was penalized five times for 75-yards; three times for roughing the passer and twice for excessive celebration.   Pittsburgh was unable to cash on the free yardage, however.

The Trojans scored two touchdowns in the 3rd quarter on a 74-yard run by Joe McKnight, followed by a Damien Williamswide receiver sweep for a 53-yard touchdown.

Pittsburgh's offense was able to use the aggressiveness of the Trojan defense to score a 66-yard touchdown pass on a screen to Kevin Collier in garbage time before USC closed out a 38-14 victory.

Stats:
USC
Aaron Corp –  QB Rating: 201.6, 3/6 for 69 yards, TD
Joe McKnight- 9 rushes for 104 yards, TD (broke 3 tackles with 35-yards after 1st contact)
C.J. Gable – 6 rushes for 30 yards, TD, 2 KR 91-yards, TD (79-yard return)
Damien Williams – 1 rush for 53 yards, TD; 2 receptions for 49 yards, TD
Shareece Wright – 4 tackles, TFL, PD, FF
Christian Tupou – 3 tackles 3 TFL
Josh Pinkard – 2 tackles, PD
Taylor Mays – 2 tackles 2 PD
Everson Griffin – 2 tackles, TFL, 1 sack, FR 59 yards for TD
Malik Jackson – 1 tackle, TFL, sack
Kevin Thomas – INT

Pittsburgh (Green)
Bill Stull – QB Rating:129.3, 12/27 for 218 yards 2 TDs, INT
Dion Lewis – 3 rec 15-yards
Jonathan Baldwin – 5 receptions for 90 yards, TD
Kevin Collier – 2 receptions for 65 yards, TD