RB Woods shines in USC's win over Syracuse
Lane Kiffin spent all week going on and on about how big of a test it would be for his Trojans facing Syracuse. He went as far as to say the Orange should've won the game against Northwestern "a million times," and how they pretty much statistically dominated the Wildcats.
While it appeared he may have been blowing smoke or giving his opponent too much credit, the Orange certainly looked every bit the test Kiffin said they would be.
It was a good thing the Trojans had a bailout plan, also known as Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, to get out of MetLife Stadium with a 42-29 win.
When the Trojans needed a touchdown, it was Woods and Lee there to provide them with one. The wide receiving duo scored five of the six USC touchdowns on Saturday.
But more than getting into the end zone, it was the duo's ability to make plays, especially Woods.
On a 3rd and 12 in third quarter, the Biletnikoff finalist from a season ago caught a bubble screen just in front of the USC sideline. With nowhere to go, he reversed field, picked up a block by Lee, rode the Syracuse sideline and dove for a first down.
That would set up his own four-yard touchdown reception on a stick route from Matt Barkley to put the Trojans up 21-3.
But USC's lead was cut to 21-16 by the end of the third, so it was time for more Woods heroics. He didn't make a catch in the fourth quarter but found other ways to contribute.
Woods ran up to field a punt and took it 31 yards to the 22-yard line of Syracuse.
Three plays later, it was Barkley finding Xavier Grimble for a 22-yard score to put USC up 28-16.
Woods, then started off the Trojans' next possession with a 76-yard run on an end around down to the Syracuse four-yard line. Two plays later, it was Lee catching his second of three touchdowns on the night to give USC some much needed breathing room at 35-16 after the Orange seized the momentum late in the third quarter.
Woods finished with 200 all-purpose yards. He had 93 yards receiving on 10 catches and two touchdowns.
Lee finished with 11 catches for 63 yards.
It was very much needed against a Syracuse team that outgained USC, 455-445 in total yards. The Trojans committed 12 penalties for 82 yards.
Although Barkley completed 77% of his passes and tied a career-high with six touchdowns, his 23 completions went for just 187 yards.
Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib wasn't quite the record breaking performer he was last week. He was picked off twice, but still threw for 322 yards.
To their credit, the Trojans were more balanced, rushing the ball for 258 yards but wasn't as crisp in the passing game, especially in the first half.
The Trojans were able to survive the Orange and a nearly 75-minute rain delay between the second and third quarters to pick up the win. It was quite the birthday gift for Barkley, who turned 22 on Saturday.
In addition to the win, Barkley's thoughts were on his teammate, center Khaled Holmes, who was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Cyrus Hobbi.