The Football Blitz

One could dub the USC/Ohio State game one of momentum.  The momentum shifted from the Trojans to the Buckeyes and back again throughout this contest.  This game was one of stellar defense, hard hits and offenses struggling to execute against the high intensity defenses of both these fine football teams.  Pete Carroll the head coach of USC had never lost to a Big-10 school.  Jim Tressel would like nothing more than to change that.  The last time the Buckeyes beat the Trojans was 1974.  Will the Buckeye’s defeat the Men of Troy or will Carroll and the Trojans head home victors, once again?

In the first series of the game the Trojans claimed an interception and had momentum on their side.  The offense took over in the red zone and on fourth down converted it to a touchdown.  Ohio State kept their composure and marched down the field and answered with a touchdown of their own. The momentum quickly turned to the Buckeyes.  The remaining of the first and second quarter was a battle of the defense.  USC had a tremendous goal line stance at the end of the 1st quarter to deny the buckeyes a touchdown and instead they had to settle for a field goal.  Both teams headed to the locker room at the half tied with a score of 10-10.

Throughout the 3rd quarter the Buckeyes defense continued to be intense.  They played as if they had a chip on their shoulder on both sides of the ball.  USC still appearing tough was having trouble executing anything on offense.  Barkley, the USC quarterback, proved he was very mobile and athletic like all Trojan quarterbacks are.  Even his athleticism and mobility couldn’t overcome the the nose to the grindstone defense of  the Ohio State Buckeyes.  On the last USC drive of the 4th quarter the Trojan offense so many are used to seeing put a nice long drive together.  The offensive line was protecting the quarterback allowing him to move the ball.  That series ended with a USC touchdown and a two point conversion leaving only 1:05 for the Buckeyes to answer.  The Buckeyes couldn’t answer and USC wins by a score of 18-15.  The Trojans are headed back to Los Angeles victorious and Coach Pete Carroll is still undefeated against Big-10 teams.