USC Dominates Notre Dame, 38-3

This game may have been all USC, but the headlines are all about Charlie Weis. Will Notre Dame buyout the remainder of his contract?

Before the game, most of the rumors were that Weis’s tenure at Notre Dame was shaky but probably not dour.

The Irish were in no way expected to beat USC. If they did, Coach Weis would definitely be returning to South Bend next year. No question about it.

More than likely he would return in any case as long as the Irish were competitive.

They weren’t.

Except for Robert Blanton intercepting a Marc Sanchez pass on USC’s first possession, the Irish were completely dominated.

On the Trojans second possession, Stafon Johnson hit paydirt first following center Kris O’Dowd up the middle for a 2-yard score to cap a 12-play, 79-yard drive.

The #1 Trojan defense had no problem handling the #57 Irish offense, holding them to a mere 16 yards in the first quarter.

Despite the stellar defense, the USC offense looked sluggish as it usually does early. The same old false starts and holding penalties killed one drive while some poor play calls put the Trojans in a fourth-and-long and gave the Irish great field position near mid-field.

However, a Kaluka Maiava interception gave the ball right back to the Trojans. On the first play, Joe McKnight with his speed and shiftiness, broke a 55-yard TD run off the left side and USC was ahead 14-0.

After the defense held the Irish to another three-and-out, Sanchez hit fullback Stanley Havili for 25 yards then found a wide open Damain Williams for a 12-yard TD, and USC was went up 21-0.

An illegal block-in-the-back and an excessive celebration penalty nullified a Stafon Johnson TD punt return. Nevertheless, the Trojans were able to get in field goal range with a Sanchez completion to Patrick Turner at the 12.

With time running out David Buehler kicked a 35-yard field goal to give USC a 24-0 lead going in at halftime.

Just how good was the nation’s #1 defense?

Don’t Ask. The Trojan defense did not allow a first down the entire half and held Notre Dame to just 9 total yards. Meanwhile the USC offense accounted for 266 yards.

USC continued to dominate in the second half.

On their second possession of the third quarter, Stafon Johnson again followed Kris O’Dowd into the end zone. But O’Dowd was caught holding, and Johnson had another TD nullified.

The Trojans would not have the opportunity to try it again because Kyle McCarthy intercepted a Sanchez pass in the end zone.

Still unable to get a first down, Notre Dame punted back to the Trojans at mid-field. This time the Trojans took it in behind the running of C.J. Gable who finished the 6-play, 45-yard drive with a 1-yard run.

On the last play of the third quarter, Notre Dame got its first first-down of the game with a quick burst off left tacckle by James Aldridge. That brought a loud cheer from Irish fans.

Aldridge wasn’t done and promptly started the final quarter with another first-down burst up the middle, and Notre Dame was finally in USC territory.

The drive stalled, however, and Brandon Walker kicked a 41-yard field goal for the Irish to avoid the shutout.

But USC wasn’t done yet. Behind the running of fourth-string tailback Marc Tyler, USC got down to the Irish 17.

From there, Sanchez threw a perfect strike to Patrick Turner on a post route to make the score 38-3 USC.

Except for a couple of fights, the remainder of the fourth quarter was uneventful as Pete Carroll put in his reserves on both sides of the ball.

Notre Dame wound up with only 91 total yards and 4 first downs compared to 450 yards for USC and 22 first downs.

With Oregon State losing to Oregon 65-38, the most points ever scored in the Civil War, USC will retain their Pac-10 title if they beat UCLA next Saturday.

Right now that seems to be a given. But who can forget the 2006 game at the Rose Bowl?

USC just needed a victory over archrival UCLA to go to the BCS title game. Instead the underdog Bruins upset the Trojans 13-9. A day that will forever live in infamy – as far as USC fans are concerned.

This year, there is no chance of a berth in the BCS title game. Another trip to the Rose Bowl is the best USC can hope for now that Oregon State has lost.

However, there is one difference, if USC beats UCLA, they won’t be playing a Big Ten runner up. This year they will be playing the Big Ten champions, Penn State. The same team that demolished Oregon State 45-14.