Trojans feeling a whole lot better rushing into next game

USC can go into Saturday’s game against Arizona State feeling 10 times better about its rushing attack than it did two weeks ago.

After netting only 20 yards rushing in an upset loss to Boston College, the Trojans ran for 200 in their rejuvenating victory over Oregon State.

Not that everything was perfect.

Coach Steve Sarkisian said he wants tailbacks Javorius Allen and Justin Davis to slip more tackles once they clear the line of scrimmage and reach the “second level” of the defense.

“We need to drastically improve our ability to make people miss,” Sarkisian said. “I think we’re getting tackled too easily.”

Allen’s elusiveness was evident in 2013 when he emerged after midseason to become the Trojans’ leading rusher and most valuable player. Allen rushed for more than 100 yards four times in the last six games.

This season, the junior rushed for 133 yards against Fresno State and a career-best 154 against Stanford before he was limited to 31 yards in 15 carries at Boston College.

A few days before the Oregon State game, Allen said, “I feel like I always want to prove a point,” and he did so against the Beavers.

He rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown in 20 carries, but did not have a run longer than his 17-yard touchdown.

Allen is averaging 108.2 yards a game and 5.4 yards a carry, about a half-yard shy of his 2013 average.

Sophomore Justin Davis averaged 6.8 yards a carry last season before breaking his ankle against Notre Dame.

He entered the Oregon State game averaging only 2.3 yards a carry, but increased that by more than a yard after running for 82 yards and a touchdown in 15 carries. His longest gain came on his 21-yard touchdown.

Arizona State threat

It remains to be seen whether Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly will return from a foot injury to play against the Trojans.

On Sunday, Sun Devils Coach Todd Graham told reporters in Arizona that the senior was “pretty questionable” for the USC game.

But USC knows it must stop Sun Devils running back D.J. Foster.

The junior is averaging 135 yards rushing a game, ranking first in the Pac-12 and ninth nationally.

Foster also is the Sun Devils’ second-leading receiver.

Last week against UCLA, Foster was limited to 30 yards in nine carries in a 62-27 defeat.

Mike Bercovici played in place of Kelly and completed 42 of 68 passes for 488 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions.

Penalty prone

USC is averaging nine penalties a game, which puts the Trojans 115th among 125 major college teams.

Among Pac-12 teams, only California, averaging 9.5 penalties, and Oregon State (11.5) have been flagged more.

Arizona State, under Graham, is the least penalized team in the conference. The Sun Devils commit 5.5 penalties a game, which ranks 40th nationally.

Quick hit

USC’s Oct. 11 game at Arizona will kick off at 7:30 p.m., and will be televised by ESPN2.