USC Football: Trojan Defense Dominates In Paradise, Beating Hawaii 30-13

Dec 31, 2012; El Paso, TX, USA; USC Trojans offensive tackle Zach Banner (73), defensive back Nickell Robey (21) and the rest of the Trojans prepare to take the field for the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during of the 79th annual Sun Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

You have to give Hawaii credit in their battle with USC’s Trojans; for the first quarter and a half, they were actually winning!

Coming off a 3-9 season, those Rainbow Warriors from Honolulu had nothing to lose against a traditional powerhouse like ol’ SC, and they played like such as coach Norm Chow’s defense brought it, giving Lane Kiffin’s offense fits in the early going.

That was particularly the case when Trojan quarterback Cody Kessler, who started the game, was sacked in the end zone for a safety at the beginning of the second quarter.

Then reality set in as 24th ranked USC realized who they were and who they were playing.

Kessler threw his first touchdown pass as a Trojan to Nelson Agholor with under five minutes to go in the first half, and safety Josh Shaw ran an interception back 35 yards for another score.

Speaking of interceptions, Shaw’s was one of four that Hawaii quarterback Taylor Graham threw on the night as SC’s defense played even more lights out than Hawaii’s did, sacking Graham seven times.

All of that, plus a good second half performance on the ground from the Trojans’ freshman running backs, Justin Davis and Tre Madden, resulted in a 30-13 win before 39, 058 at Aloha Stadium.

The win was USC’s 16th straight on Opening Day and their eighth against Hawaii, having never lost to them.

As for how Kessler and the other Trojan quarterback, Max Wittek, performed, well…

Dec 31, 2012; El Paso, TX, USA; Former USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley poses for photos with the USC marching band at last season’s Sun Bowl – will the Trojans ultimately miss him? Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

I’ll call it a wash as both signal-callers did some good things and struggled at times; it’s safe to say that the question of who is ultimately going to be Matt Barkley’s successor under center was not answered on Thursday night.

Kessler started off slowly, but ended up completing ten of 19 passes for 95 yards and that touchdown to Agholor, with one interception.

Wittek, who entered the game in the third quarter as Kiffin fulfilled his promise to play both of his QBs, completed five of his ten passing attempts but suffered from a few dropped throws, one of them notably from All-American receiver and the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, Marqise Lee, who dropped a sure touchdown pass.

Lee ended up doing just fine, however, as he made eight catches for 104 yards.

Madden and Davis combined for 183 yards on the ground, most of them coming in the second half as the difference in talent level between USC and mid-major Hawaii really showed itself, the Trojans’ offensive line asserting itself while Hawaii’s front seven grew tired.

Kicker Andre Heidari had a good night as well, making three field goals, including a personal best 52-yarder.

Overall, Trojan fans can feel happy about the defense, as they essentially won the game for ‘SC on Thursday, but the question of who will be the man at quarterback for the Men of Troy remains.

It’s a good thing for USC that their next three opponents are the kind that shouldn’t be too much of a problem, particularly when you consider that they will all be home games in the Coliseum.

NEXT OPPONENT:

Washington State Cougars

DATE & TIME:  Saturday, September 7, 7:30 p.m.

PLACE:  L.A. Memorial Coliseum

TV:  Fox Sports 1

This serves as the Pac-12 Conference opener, the Trojans playing a team that they haven’t seen since 2010.

These Cougars from Pullman, WA haven’t been so good, and have suffered some internal turmoil under coach Mike Leach, who’s entering his second year in the Palouse. They are picked to finish last in the Pac-12 North, and USC should make fairly easy pickings of Wazzu in their home opener.