Defense forces close game
Joseph Vasquez / The Collegian
Senior defensive end Garrett McIntyre sacks Heisman trophy candidate Matt Leinart and was part of a defense that kept USC from scoring on their first drive. |
By Maggie Thach
The Collegian
The big question going into the game against rankings leader USC in Los Angeles was how Fresno State was going to stop the high-energy offense that makes the Trojans No. 1.
USC has scored at least 34 points every game this season and if the Bulldogs were going to limit the scoring, they neededto stop the Trojans’ No. 1 option: Reggie Bush.
Bush was responsible for 362 of USC’s total 508 yards of offense and single-handedly led the Trojans to a 50-42 thriller over the Bulldogs.
“On defense, we talked about not giving up,” said Richard Marshall, who had seven total tackles and one pass break-up. “Somehow, Bush made it happen. If we stopped Reggie, we would have won.”
Still, Bush’s yards didn’t come without reprecussion. The trio of Tyrone Culver, Richard Marshall and Marcus McCauley led the defense and combined for 22 total tackles with at least 13 of those Bush take-downs.
After the Trojans outscored Fresno State 28-7 in the third quarter and held a 14-point lead going into the fourth, the defense gave the 20,000-plus Bulldog faithfuls hope Fresno State would pull out a win.
With 13:13 left in the game, the Bulldogs, on an eight-play drive, scored on a 6-yard pass from Paul Pinegar to Joe Fernandez, making the score 41-35.
Kyle Zimmerman’s ensuing kick off went to Bush. Coming up the left side, McCauley forced a fumble and Jason Huss was there to pick it up at USC’s 18-yard line, setting up the 18-yard run by Wendell Mathis to put the Bulldogs up 42-41.
“We played him very tough,” head coach Pat Hill said. “We went nose-to-nose. That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”
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