The Arizona Wildcats came close, but couldnβt quite pull off another comeback against USC. The Wildcats scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but it wasnβt enough, and USC won the game 28-26. Casey Skowron missed a 36-yard field goal for Arizona with 12 seconds left to seal the win for USC.
Trailing 28-20, the Wildcats drove 80 yards down the field in 2:20, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run from Jared Baker. On a two-point conversion attempt to the tie the game, USC stopped Arizona at the goal line. Arizona then converted an onside kick.
The Wildcats started the fourth quarter off nicely, scoring on a 41-yard passing touchdown from Anu Solomon to tailback Jared Baker, bringing the score to 28-20 with 10:19 to go.
Third quarter: If the Arizona Wildcats are going to stay undefeated, theyβre going to need some more fourth quarter magic.
USC enters the fourth quarter with a 27-13 lead.
The Trojans led 14-6 at halftime, and pushed it to 21-6 when Cody Kessler found Nelson Agholor for a 21-yard touchdown.
The Wildcats responded when Jared Baker scored on a 6-yard rush to cut it to eight.
The 56,754 fans at a sold out Arizona Stadium briefly got back into the game, before USCβs offense silenced them again.
Leading by eight, the Trojans marched 75 yards on 13 plays and capped it with a 1-yard score from Javorius Allen. Allen has three touchdowns on the game and 163 yards on 21 carries.
The Wildcats, down their top two running backs to injury, have just 65 rushing yards on 23 carries. The UAβs longest rush on the night is a nine-yard reverse by Tyrell Johnson.
Through three quarters, Anu Solomon is 27 for 43 for 218 yards, no scores and no picks.
The UA will open the fourth with a 3rd and 12 on its own 22.
Second quarter: Imagine this β Arizona is in another close game.
After seeing their last four games be decided by a touchdown or less, the Wildcats are in another tight one with USC tonight at a sold out Arizona Stadium.
Arizona trails USC 14-6 at halftime.
Leading 7-6, the Trojans scored early in the second quarter, when Javorius Allen rushed for a 48-yard touchdown, his second of the game.
His rush capped a furious, three-play, 62-yard drive that spanned just 43 seconds.
The teams then traded possessions back and forth until late in the half. Faced with a 3rd and 24 inside his own territory, USC quarterback Cody Kessler avoided a sack, but then was intercepted by Jonathan McKnight.
The Wildcats took over and eventually had a field goal blocked at the end of the half.
Kessler, who didnβt have any interceptions coming into the game, is 10 for 14 for 104 yards and the pick. Allen has 106 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries.
Anu Solomon has already aired it out 38 times. Heβs 23 for 38 for 205 yards and no scores or no picks.
DaVonteβ Neal has five catches for 55 yards to lead the UA.
The Wildcats are down to third-string running back Jared Baker after Terris Jones-Grigsby took a shot to the head from USC All-American Leonard Williams. Jones-Grigsby fumbled on the play, giving the ball back to USC.
Starter Nick Wilson, who suffered an ankle injury last week, didnβt dress.
The Trojans will get the ball to start the second half.
First quarter: A season-long problem has become an issue for the Arizona Wildcats again tonight against USC.
The Wildcats have had three trips inside USC territory, but havenβt been able to punch in a touchdown. Instead, the UA has settled for a pair of field goals and trails USC 7-6 after the opening quarter in front of a sold-out crowd at Arizona Stadium.
The Wildcats got on the board first when Casey Skowron connected on a 32-yard field goal. His kick came just six plays after DaVonteβ Neal returned a punt 42 yards to set the UA up at USCβs 36-yard line.
Skowron connected on the 32-yarder after missing from 48 yards earlier in the quarter.
After Skowronβs field goal, USCβs offense flexed its muscles.
The Trojans drove 66 yards on just five plays and capped it with a 34-yard touchdown run from Javorius Allen to take a 7-3 lead.
Allenβs rush came on 3rd and 6 for the Trojans. He got into the open field and used a juke to get around Arizona free safety Jourdon Grandon and into the end zone.
USC ran just 11 plays in the first quarter. Quarterback Cody Kessler was 5 for 6 for 65 yards. Allen had 43 yards on five carries.
Anu Solomon went 12 for 20 for 124 yards in the first quarter. Terris Jones-Grigsby, who started in place of Nick Wilson, had 17 yards on seven carries.
Wilson is out with an ankle injury.
