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USC dominates Arizona in 48-14 win

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USC was never really threatened in a 48-14 win over Arizona in Tuscon on Saturday. But the status of star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is up in the air after leaving with an injury, casting a shadow of uncertainty over an otherwise successful day.

Scoring summary:

FIRST QUARTER

  • USC running back Ronald Jones II runs for a five-yard touchdown (USC 7, Arizona 0)
  • Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate runs for a three-yard touchdown (USC 7, Arizona 7)
  • USC quarter Sam Darnold throws an 11-yard touchdown pass to Deontay Burnett (USC, 14, Arizona 7)

SECOND QUARTER

  • USC quarterback Sam Darnold throws an eight-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Imatorbhebhe (USC 21, Arizona 7)
  • USC quarterback Sam Darnold throws a three-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC 27, Arizona 7)
  • USC quarterback Sam Darnold throws a 39-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC 34, Arizona 7)

THIRD QUARTER

  • USC quarterback Sam Darnold throws a 46-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC 41, Arizona 7)

FOURTH QUARTER

  • Arizona quarterback Matt Morin throws a seven-yard touchdown to Semajie Grant (USC 41, Arizona 14)
  • USC running back Aca’Cedric Ware runs for a 21-yard touchdown (USC 48, Arizona 14)

USC dominates Arizona in 48-14 win

USC quarterback Sam Darnold runs the ball during the first half of a game against Arizona on Oct. 15.
(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

USC was never really threatened in a 48-14 win over Arizona in Tuscon on Saturday. But the status of star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is up in the air after leaving with an injury, casting a shadow of uncertainty over an otherwise successful day.

Smith-Schuster, who entered the game as USC’s leading receiver, caught nine passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns before exiting late in the third quarter. He could not be stopped by Arizona’s shorthanded defense, which helped USC quarterback Sam Darnold complete 20 of 32 passes for 235 yards and five touchdowns.

The Wildcats went with 17-year-old freshman quarterback Khalil Tate, who struggled while filling in for the injured Brandon Dawkins. Tate, who attended Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, completed seven of 18 passes for 58 yards. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble, and was relieved by tight end-turned quarterback Matt Morin before the start of the fourth. The Arizona offense struggled throughout, gaining 343 total yards to USC’s 575.

But before Arizona (2-5, 0-4 in Pac-12 play) was effectively out of the game, it faced fourth and goal at the one in the second quarter A short field goal could have chipped into USC’s early 14-point lead, but Wildcats Coach Rich Rodriguez kept his offense on the field.

The Trojans defense didn’t bite on Tate’s play-action fake to Nick Wilson. Tate threw the ball out of the back of the end zone. USC (4-3, 3-2) took over on downs.

The Trojans didn’t make much of the resulting possession, but it still felt like a turning point in the contest. The Wildcats punted on their next three possessions as USC built a 34-7 halftime lead. They did that on two touchdown catches by Smith-Schuster, the second of which came after he broke three tackles while tip-toeing down the right sideline.

Arizona’s day, to that point, could be summed up by Tate’s halftime stat line: one completion on seven attempts, four passing yards, an interception and a lost fumble. Darnold, meanwhile, threw for 180 yards and four touchdowns in the first two quarters. He also picked up 54 rushing yards on six carries.

Smith-Schuster was at it again after halftime, leaping over Wildcats cornerback Dane Cruikshank to haul in a 46-yard touchdown. That stretched USC’s lead to 34 points, and gave Smith-Schuster 123 yards on eight catches.

But that was followed by a troubling development. With 2:35 left in the third quarter, Darnold threw a sideline pass to Smith-Schuster that was well out of his reach. Smith-Schuster reached for it and was hit from behind by Criukshank, and writhed on the ground in pain before trainers rushed over to him. He was eventually helped to the USC bench by his teammates, raising questions as to why he was still playing in the latter stages of a blowout. He seemed to be clutching his lower back as he exited.

USC coasted from there, even as Matt Morin — a tight end-turned quarterback — helped the Wildcats offense find a rhythm. Max Browne, once the team’s starting quarterback, relieved Darnold. The Trojans handily won their consecutive game, inching them up the Pac-12 south standings after a 1-3 start provided anything but a sunny outlook.

Yet the Trojans didn’t escape Saturday fully unscathed, as the unknown status of Smith-Schuster hung a cloud over the win.

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USC leads Arizona, 48-14, in the fourth quarter

Freshman running back Aca’Cedric Ware is making the most of increased opportunities on Saturday, and used two big runs to push USC’s lead back up to 34 points.

Ware ran 37 yards to the Arizona 21-yard line, and then 21 yards into the end zone on the next play. That gave the Trojans a 48-14 lead with 11:33 left in the game.

It also gave Ware the first 100-yard rushing game of his college career, as he now has 103 yards in 12 carries in the contest.

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USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is helped off the field by teammates

It seemed like just another play in a brewing blowout of Arizona, but then USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster remained on the ground instead of popping onto his feet.

Smith-Schuster has eight catches for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the game. But with 2:35 left in the third quarter, he writhed on the ground in pain and had to be helped to the bench by teammates.

Smith-Schuster walked to the locker room, under his own power, shortly after the play. Smith-Schuster’s status has not been determined, and the details of the injury have not yet been announced.

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USC leads Arizona, 41-7, after JuJu Smith-Schuster catches third touchdown

Arizona cannot stop USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who scored his third straight touchdown to give the Trojans a 41-7 lead with 10:29 left in the third quarter.

USC started the second half on the ground, handing off to Ronald Jones II three straight times for two first downs. Then Aca’Cedric Ware rumbled forward for 13 yards, as the Trojans offensive line started to push around the Arizona front.

One play later, Smith-Schuster leapt over Wildcats cornerback Dane Cruikshank to haul in the 46-yard touchdown pass. Smith-Schuster now has 123 yards on eight catches.

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Arizona punts to USC yet again to start the second half

Arizona deferred to start the game, likely thinking a possession after halftime would be valuable after a hard-fought first half.

But the Wildcats fell behind 34-7 after the first two quarters, and then punted the ball away after picking up two first downs on their first possession of the third.

The Arizona offense found a rhythm out of the break, as Khalil Tate — who had four passing yards at halftime — bested his passing total for the day with a nine-yard pass to Shun Brown. Two plays later, Tate found Samajie Grant for another first down.

But the offense couldn’t move any farther, as Tate rolled to his right and overthrew Brown on third and long. Out came the Arizona punting unit, which has been busy all afternoon.

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USC-Arizona: Photos from the first half

USC running back Ronald Jones II (25) crashes into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of a game against Arizona on Oct. 15.
(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate is taken down by USC defensive end Porter Gustin during the first half of a game on Oct. 15.
(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
Arizona receiver Trey Griffey can't haul in a pass while being defended by USC defensive back Iman Marshall during the first quarter of a game on Oct. 15.
(Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
Arizona running back Nick Wilson stiff arms USC defensive back Marvell Tell III (7) during the first half of a game on Oct. 15.
(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

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USC-Arizona: Halftime stats

USC has a commanding 34-7 halftime lead over Arizona in Tuscon. Here are some notable numbers from the first two quarters:

USC

-USC quarterback Sam Darnold was very sharp in the first half, completing 17 of 28 passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns.

-Ronald Jones II, filling in for the injured Justin Davis at running back, ran 47 yards in 11 carries and a touchdown.

-JuJu Smith-Schuster led all USC receivers with 77 yards on seven catches in the first two quarters. He also caught two touchdowns, including one right before halftime. Darreus Rogers was also big in the Trojans passing game in the first half, catching four passes for 42 yards.

-In total, USC gained 303 yards on 51 plays. The Trojans also converted six of nine third downs.

Arizona

-Freshman quarterback Khalil Tate, starting in place of the injured Brandon Dawkins, completed just one of seven passes for four yards in the first half. He also had a pass intercepted and lost a fumble. Tate, a dual-threat quarterback, made his greatest contributions on the ground with 74 yards and a rushing touchdown on 12 carries.

-Arizona running back Nick Wilson ran for 47 yards in six carries. A big chunk of his production came on a 39-yard dash in the second quarter.

-In total, the Wildcats gained just 134 yards on 28 plays. Arizona converted just one of five third downs, which made it hard for them to move the ball.

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USC leads Arizona, 34-7, at halftime

On one play JuJu Smith-Schuster was committing an ill-advised penalty that could have dashed a brewing USC scoring drive. Soon after he was punctuating that drive with an electric 39-yard touchdown catch down the right sideline.

The Trojans now lead Arizona, 34-7, at halftime.

After falling behind by three scores, Arizona ran three plays before punting to USC once again.

Darnold found Smith-Schuster for a first down, but the Trojans were docked 15 yards after Smith-Schuster was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. Darnold answered with a nine-yard pass to Darreus Rogers, then scrambled for 18 yards and into Arizona territory.

Then Smith-Schuster came back onto the field and broke three tackles before plunging into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day.

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USC leads Arizona, 27-7, in the second quarter

USC’s offense has spurred Arizona turnovers all afternoon, and this time it was an interception that set up a three-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The Trojans now lead, 27-7, with 4:07 left in the first half. They fumbled the snap on the point-after attempt, leaving a point on the field.

After Arizona and USC traded punts, the Trojans offense went three and out and missed another opportunity to stretch its lead to three scores.

But then Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate threw a pass right into the waiting hands of USC cornerback Iman Marshall.

The interception set USC up on the Arizona 15-yard line, and freshman Aca’Cedric Ware ran for 10 yards on the first play of the drive.

Two plays later, Danold swung a screen to Smith-Schuster and the wide receiver walked into the end zone for his sixth touchdown of the season.

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USC forces a turnover on downs in the red zone

On fourth and goal on the one, the defense wasn’t fooled by Khalil Tate’s fake handoff and the quarterback was forced to throw the ball out of the back of the end zone.

The Wildcats, trailing, 21-7, in the second quarter, had a chance to pick up three easy points. Instead they gambled, and came up empty-handed.

After a Tate scramble pushed Arizona close to midfield, Nick Wilson ran off tackle and burst 38 yards deep into USC territory.

One play later, Trojans defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu was called for a facemask penalty that gave the Wildcats first and goal. It was USC’s second costly penalty of the drive, as a holding call on Adoree Jackson helped jump start Arizona when it was clawing out of its own territory.

After a few short plays, the Wildcats called a timeout ahead of a critical third and four. Tate ran to his right, had a few blockers, and reached out the ball while being tackled by his waist. He came up a yard short of the end zone, but Rich Rodriguez kept his offense on the field.

The result didn’t justify the decision.

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USC turns a turnover into a 21-7 lead in the second quarter

USC didn’t have to go 75 yards this time. Two plays after an Arizona turnover deep in its own territory, Sam Darnold found tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe for another score.

The Trojans now lead 21-7 and have full control of the game, with 13:42 left in the second quarter.

USC forced a Khalil Tate fumble after a long scramble, and Adoree Jackson ran 27 yards on the return.

That set the Trojans up on the Arizona 10-yard line, only 20 seconds after they grabbed a 14-7 lead on a Sam Darnold touchdown pass.

After a three-yard run by Ronald Jones II, Darnold rolled to his right and hit Imatorbhebhe for the eight-yard score. Imatorbhebhe caught the pass with his fingertips and dragged his knee in the end zone to stretch USC’s lead to 14 points.

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USC leads Arizona, 14-7, after one quarter

A methodical drive by USC — in which it converted on four third-down plays — ended with Sam Darnold scrambling away from pressure to find Deontay Burnett in the end zone for a touchdown.

The drive went 75 yards in 14 plays, and the Trojans now lead Arizona, 14-7, after one quarter.

Darnold faced an all-out blitz on third and seven, but he quickly recognized it and bounced his way to a first down. Darnold found Darreus Rogers for a 17-yard gain on the next play, but then overthrew a wide-open De’Quan Hampton down the right sideline.

USC then went back to the ground, and Ronald Jones II barreled for six yards. Facing another third down, Darnold burst through the pocket and dived past the first-down marker. He ran again two plays later, setting up third and six from Arizona’s 33-yard line.

This time, Darnold stayed in the pocket and hit JuJu Smith-Schuster on a slant route to pick up the first down. Darnold found Rogers a play later, and again the chains moved.

The Trojans then faced a third-and-seven in the red zone, and Darnold scrambled to his right before hitting Burnett for the score.

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USC and Arizona are tired, 7-7, in the first quarter

Favorable field position led to Arizona’s first score of the day, a three-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown by Khalil Tate.

The Trojans and Wildcats are now tied, 7-7, with 5:40 left in the first quarter.

Arizona opted to throw on third and inches, and USC cornerback Iman Marshall was called for a pass interference penalty. That moved the Wildcats to the Trojans’ 13-yard line, and Tate scrambled on first down to set up a Nick Wilson run to the three.

On the next down, Tate faked a handoff, kept the ball and coasted in to the end zone untouched.

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USC forces a punt on Arizona’s first possession

Arizona’s offense has the potential to be dynamic with Khalil Tate under center, but it may also struggle to move the ball against a USC defense that is far more experienced.

Tate, a freshman starting in place of the injured Brandon Dawkins, showed off his dual-threat ability on Arizona’s first play from scrimmage. Tate burned USC defensive end Porter Gustin on the edge and scampered down the left sideline for a 28-yard gain.

But the drive stalled right then and there. A rush went backward, the Wildcats were called for a false start penalty and then Tate completed a pass well short of the first-down marker.

This could spell the fate for the Wildcats’ offense on Saturday, where big plays could be met by consistent inconsistency.

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USC leads Arizona, 7-0, in the first quarter

Ronald Jones II is USC’s featured back against Arizona on Saturday, and he looked the part on the Trojans’ first drive of the day.

It finished with Jones plunging into the end zone for the first score of the game, and the sophomore’s early totals at six carries for 30 yards.

Arizona won the coin toss and chose to defer, handing the ball to USC and quarterback Sam Darnold to start the game.

Darnold took a deep shot to JuJu Smith-Schuster, and then found Steven Mitchell Jr. with a back-shoulder pass to move the chains on third and long.

Jones, starting in place of injured running back Justin Davis, then dashed for 10 yards for another first down. Next, Jones shook his way into the red zone with a 13-yard run.

Darnold scrambled down to the goal line two downs later, and Jones dived into the end zone two downs after that.

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Freshman quarterback Khalil Tate will start for Arizona

Brandon Dawkins, Arizona’s starting quarterback, is wearing a sweatshirt and shorts during pregame warmups in Tuscon.

Anu Solomon, the Wildcats’ next option under center, is also not suited up. That leaves freshman Khalil Tate to make the first start of his college career. Dawkins has been dealing with a rib injury, while Solomon is still working back from a concussion.

Tate, who went to Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, was impressive in relief against UCLA two weeks ago. The dual-threat quarterback has completed 10 of his 17 pass attempts on the season, and has thrown three touchdowns to one interception. Tate has also run for 112 yards on 25 carries.

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USC has a good chance to inch further up the Pac-12 South standings

A USC season that once seemed lost can inch closer to success in Tuscon on Saturday.

The Trojans, after starting 1-3 and changing starting quarterbacks, are now 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-12 in second place in the South standings. Colorado, Arizona State and No. 21 Utah are all tied atop the division at 2-1. Arizona, which is hosting USC, is 0-3 in conference play and should provide a springboard up the division standings.

That will require USC handling business in searing temperatures, a variable that could make this clash closer than it should be.

The Trojans, who have been injected with life since redshirt freshman Sam Darnold took over at quarterback, are coming off back-to-back home wins. The first was a convincing 41-20 victory over Arizona State and the second a tight 21-17 triumph over then-No. 21 Colorado last weekend.

Arizona is coming off three losses, and has only beaten Hawaii and Grambling State this season. The Wildcats did push then-No. 9 Washington to overtime in Week 4, but have since lost to UCLA and Utah.

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USC and Arizona are expecting high temperatures in Tuscon

The mercury has climbed to 90 degrees with about 45 minutes remaining until kickoff here in Tucson, and the heat is expected to intensify as the game goes on.

The forecast high for the day is 94 degrees. Only a few fans have left the shade of tailgate tents for Arizona Stadium so far.

This is the first day game Arizona (2-3, 0-3 in Pac-12) has played this season, and kickoff with visiting USC (3-3, 2-2) is set for 12:30 p.m.

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This freshman is ready to make a dent with the pass rush

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC defensive end Oluwole Betiku Jr. was so overwhelmed to see the first action of his career last weekend that his mind momentarily went blank.

“It was wonderful,” Betiku said. “But I got onto the field, I forgot everything, man.”

USC has high hopes for Betiku, a five-star recruit from Gardena Serra High. His chiseled frame already resembles that of a professional player, though he is only a freshman. He’s listed at 6 feet 3 and 250 pounds (he says he now weighs 260 pounds).

But Betiku is a raw talent. He started playing football only recently, having lived in Nigeria until his sophomore season in high school. He was, in other words, a good candidate to take a redshirt season.

Trojans Coach Clay Helton indicated last week that he didn’t want to keep Betiku off the field. He played one snap against Colorado, a total that is likely to increase if USC is to justify burning a season of Betiku’s eligibility.

“We looked at it and said, OK we’re playing Colorado, Arizona, Cal, Oregon coming up, you’re playing these teams that you could play anywhere from 80 to 100 plays in a game, we need that third-down pass rush,” Helton said. “And he gives it to us.”

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What to expect when the Trojans play the Wildcats in Arizona

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC has a travel problem.

Since Clay Helton became USC’s full-time coach, the Trojans have a record of 3-0 at the Coliseum but are 0-5 on the road. (USC is 2-7 away from home in games dating back to when Helton was interim coach last season.)

This season, the road problems have been wide-ranging. Against Utah, it was turnovers. Before that, against Stanford, it was penalties.

In the season opener in Texas against Alabama, it was, well, everything. Helton said he would address mental toughness and discipline before the team travels to Arizona.

“You bring your run game, you stop the run, you play great special teams and you don’t turn it over,” Helton said. “That usually equals a road win. We need one. This is a big game for us. A huge game for us.”

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How Clay Helton has kept his head while others might have been losing theirs

(Shotgun Spratling / Los Angeles Times)

No one except Clay Helton himself knows how he spent the few hours between the most brutal game of his life and the moment he showed up at the apartment he shared with friends later that night.

Helton, then a backup quarterback at Houston, had been pummeled and sacked so hard by Texas A&M that it was a wonder there weren’t dents left in the sod at Robertson Stadium. By the end of the game, the crowd ran him off the field under a cascade of boos.

His friends mostly let him be. They know he iced down afterward. The next anyone saw of him, he was back home, upbeat and positive. Same as ever.

Chad O’Shea, his fellow Houston quarterback, said it was a time in Helton’s life that prepared him to be a head coach.

“I think that we learned more from that adversity that I think it affected our coaching style to this day,” O’Shea, the receivers coach of the New England Patriots, said this summer. “How things aren’t always going to go the way you want it to, and there’s going to be some adverse circumstances and you’re just going to have to deal with it.”

Helton has internalized that lesson as evidence of the importance of stoicism. As USC’s coach, he can be Spock-like on the sideline. After games, he is almost always upbeat. That approach frustrated some USC fans after early losses this season.

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