TEMPE, Ariz. (NWN) — Rachad White ran for 202 yards and three touchdowns to help Arizona State bounce back from two ugly defeats as they beat Southern California 31-16 on Saturday night.
The Sun Devils (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12) relied heavily on their run game to cross three turnovers and defend when they needed a much-needed win.
Jaden Daniels was passing mostly ineffective, throwing with two interceptions for 145 yards – both by Xavian Alford – but White made up for it in last week’s game after missing him with a right leg injury. He is the sixth Arizona State player to run over 200 yards in a Pac-10/12 game.
USC (4-5, 3-3) alternated between Caydon Slovis and Jackson Dart at USC (4-5, 3-3)—and neither could get into the rhythm.
Dart scored on a 9-yard run, but the Trojans had to settle for three Parker Lewis field goals when they had a chance to take the lead.
Slovis threw 131 yards on a 16-in-28 passing and the dart was 8 for 16 for 89 yards. Both threw interceptions.
The Trojans and the Sun Devils have gone through some adversity this season, yet were still in the mix for the Pac-12 South title.
USC coach Clay Helton was fired after two games, the Trojans conceding 40 points in three home losses and losing star wideout Drake London to a broken ankle against Arizona last week.
The Sun Devils were coming out of a continuing weak defeat, allowing Utah to take the last 28 points and Washington State to take the first 28 points last week.
A win over Stanford on Friday night put Utah in pole position for the South, essentially making USC-Arizona State an elimination game.
The state of Arizona appeared ready to give it up.
The Sun Devils screwed up a good drive with a turnover and kept USC’s drive alive with an untimely penalty. His defense was swift, however, as USC needed to hold on for 65 first-half yards.
Arizona State’s run game was also good early on.
In the first quarter, DeMonte Trionam waited behind his blockers to open a hole, then burst for a 14-yard touchdown—after running over a fox field and a short time in the game.
White broke several tackles and led several defenders on a 26-yard catch-and-run, then burst the right sideline for a 47-yard touchdown run to top Arizona State 14-10.
Both teams spent most of the second half before White ran for a 50-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. White put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter with a 7-yard TD run.
big picture
USC continued its unaffiliated season with a blistering offense and skipped big plays at crucial times on the defense.
Arizona State needed a bounce-back win and found it on the back of White’s big game.
next
USC plays in California on Saturday.
The state of Arizona is in Washington on Saturday.
___
More NWN College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the NWN College Football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
.
