Oct. 11, 2008
LOS ANGELES -
By Matt Storey, ASU Media Relations
With a stifling defensive effort, No. 8 USC defeated Arizona State 28-0 Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The loss drops ASU to 2-4, 1-2 in the Pac-10, on the season.
The Trojans defense limited the Sun Devils to just 229 yards of total offense and gave ASU its first shutout loss in four seasons.
ASU's defense forced five turnovers in the game, including four straight on USC's first four possessions of the second half, but the Sun Devil offense could not take advantage. They had two field goals blocked in the third quarter, and they managed only four first downs and 82 total yards in the entire second half.
Quarterback Rudy Carpenter started despite an ankle injury, but he left in the third quarter after going 11-of-20 for 126 yards with an interception and three sacks. Junior Danny Sullivan played the rest of the way, finishing 4-of-17 for 28 yards and two interceptions.
Running back Dimitri Nance had five catches for 31 yards while Michael Jones finished with 51 yards on four receptions. Chris McGaha had the biggest play of the day, a 39-yard reception on the game's first play, but that was his only catch.
Nance also led the Sun Devils' running game with 14 carries for 64 yards. Keegan Herring added 35 yards on eight carries, and freshman Ryan Bass had five rushes for 22 yards in his most extensive action of the season.
Linebacker Mike Nixon had eight tackles, a sack and an interception, his second straight game picking off a pass, to lead the ASU defense. Omar Bolden and Troy Nolan also had interceptions, while Morris Wooten and Paul 'Unga both recovered a fumble.
USC got on the board quickly, when Mark Sanchez scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to cap off an eight-play, 72-yard drive on the game's opening possession.
The teams traded punts for a few possessions after that, with ASU's first four drives and USC's next three ending in punts. However, the Trojans would break through again in the second quarter, with Sanchez finding Damian Williams for a four-yard touchdown pass.
Then, on the third play of the Sun Devils' ensuing possession, Trojans cornerback Kevin Thomas intercepted Carpenter and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead that they would carry into the half.
USC turned the ball over on their first four possessions of the second half, with Wooten recovering a fumble and Nixon, Bolden and Nolan intercepting Sanchez passes. However, the Sun Devils could not get any points off the turnovers, as Thomas Weber had two field goal attempts blocked and the other two possessions ended in punts.
The Trojans would add another score in the fourth quarter on Stafon Johnson's two-yard touchdown run that capped off an eight-play, 92-yard drive. USC running back Joe McKnight had 68 of his game-high 143 rushing yards on the drive.
The Sun Devils now have a bye week before returning home to face Oregon at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25.