USC vs Colorado Final Score: Trojans Survive To Down Buffaloes

The USC vs Colorado score was tighter than many would have guessed after a dominant first half by the Trojans. In the end, USC held on to win, 21-17, over the No. 21 Buffaloes.

The lowdown: The first half was a breeze for the Trojans, who moved the ball with ease against Colorado’s defense.

After the first drive ended disappointingly when Sam Darnold fumbled at the goal line, USC found the tight ends for two scores — a 32-yard pass to Daniel Imatorbhebhe near the end of the first quarter, then a highlight-reel play from the quarterback who fumbled the snap, recovered it, rolled away from pressure and hit Tyler Petite for an 11-yard touchdown — to take a commanding lead.

Thanks to a dominating defensive performance, the game was securely in the Trojans hands until a disastrous third quarter performance by the offense put the win in jeopardy.

Running back Justin Davis, who would leave the game with an ankle injury later, fumbled on USC’s first drive of the half. When Darnold lost the ball on the next possession, Colorado took advantage with a trick play for a 67-yard touchdown to Phillip Lindsay.

The quarterback threw an interception and the Trojans lost the ball on downs before the quarter, and USC’s offensive misery, was ended.

The Buffaloes broke through once more in the fourth quarter on a scoring pass from Steven Montez to Bryce Bobo, tying the contest.

USC responded with a scoring drive of their own, culminating in Petite’s second touchdown of the game to retake the lead.

Though Colorado scored a field goal to come within a touchdown of the win, the Trojan offense ran out the clock as JuJu Smith-Schuster stopped short of the endzone rather than scoring a sure touchdown to deny the Buffaloes another possession.

The takeaway: USC got the best and worst of their redshirt freshman quarterback on his third outing as a starter.

Excellent in the first half, but woeful in the second, Darnold showed the first signs of his youth against the Buffaloes.

Lucky for the Trojans — or thanks to the defense and some big moments from veteran receivers — Darnold’s bad second half did no harm in the end.

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Head coach Clay Helton will point to a resilient effort in the fourth quarter for an offense that needed rebooting while defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast should be more than pleased with the efforts of his defense, which held Colorado scoreless in the first half.

Davis’ injury, a high ankle sprain, could have major implications for the future of USC’s 2016 season, but on Saturday, the win over a ranked Colorado squad is all that mattered.

Player of the game: Tyler Petite and Daniel Imatorbhebhe. The Trojan tight ends combined for all three USC touchdowns on the day, with four catches for 63 yards between them.

Stat of the game: USC played a relatively disciplined game, drawing just two flags for 22 yards.

Next on tap: The Trojans head to the desert to face the Arizona Wildcats for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff next Saturday.