Trojans come back in Colorado to win fourth straight game

The Trojans (7-3, 5-2) overcame a 17-6 halftime deficit to defeat the Colorado Buffaloes 27-24. Redshirt senior quarterback Cody Kessler went 17-27 with 204 yards and three touchdowns, while Justin Davis chipped in 85 yards on 14 rushes, as the Trojans rallied for the second consecutive week.

USC looked impressive on its opening drive, marching down the field behind some big runs by Davis. The Trojans had the ball inside the five with first and goal, but were stuffed by the Colorado defense. Alex Wood converted the field goal to give the Trojans an early 3-0 lead.

Colorado responded with a touchdown of their own two drives later and then capitalized off of Kessler’s sixth pick of the season with another touchdown. The Buffs would tack on a field goal to extend their lead to 17-3.

The Trojans had no answer for the Buffs’ passing game as Sefo Liufau and Cade Apsay shredded the Trojan secondary. Apsay stepped in after Liufau went down with an injury late in the first half.

The Trojans answered with a 10 play, three-minute drive that resulted in a field goal to end the half down 17-6. The Trojans managed just 165 yards of total offense in the first half with aerial threat JuJu Smith-Schuster being limited to just one catch for 19 yards.

The Trojans came alive after the intermission, scoring 21 unanswered points.

After holding off the Buffs on their first drive of the half, the Trojans marched down the field, behind the stellar work of both Davis and Ronald Jones II, for their first touchdown of the game.

The Buffs’ very next play resulted in a fumble, forced by Delvon Smith and recovered by Antwaun Woods. The Trojans drove the ball down the field but Kessler was sacked on third and goal. Fortunately, the Trojans were bailed out by an offside call. Kessler took advantage, finding De’Quan Hampton for a four-yard touchdown.

Colorado drove down the field following two straight Trojan scores. The Trojan defense came up huge and held the Buffs to a field goal attempt. Sophomore do-it-all Adoree’ Jackson came up with a major block on the field goal try and returned the ball into Buffalo territory.

The Trojans struck immediately after the blocked field goal as Kessler found a streaking Smith-Schuster for his third touchdown pass of the night to put USC up 27-17.

The Buffs wouldn’t go down without a fight, however. After a big punt return and late hit penalty against the Trojans, Apsay found George Frazier for a one-yard touchdown to bring the Buffs within a field goal, 27-24.

Colorado got the ball back again with 4:33 left in the game, but the Trojan defense held on. After giving up a first down via a pass interference call, the Trojan defense held the Buffs on fourth and five to take over the ball with under two minutes left.

Apsay finished 18-23 for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Donovan Lee led the Buffs in rushing with 32 yards on seven carries.

The Trojans had six sacks, their second consecutive game with six. Under Helton’s tenure, the Trojans have 19 sacks, compared to just 10 under Sarkisian.

The win is the Trojans fourth in a row. Next up is a visit to Eugene to face the Oregon Ducks.