Players Earn Day of Rest for Victory

USC gets back to work today with a short meeting and some running. On Sunday the players got a break as reward for their 44-38 double-overtime victory over Arizona State.

“A well-earned day off,” Coach Paul Hackett said.

But Hackett and his staff worked overtime reviewing film of a game that lasted nearly four hours, spanning almost 1,000 yards in combined offense. Call it, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

The first three quarters represented the best USC has played this season. Then came 32 unanswered points by the Sun Devils.

Finally, the Trojans won because the offense came through in overtime and the defense produced a sack, an intentional- grounding penalty and a turnover, all on Arizona State’s final possession.

“It was up to us,” said defensive lineman Matt Childers, who recovered a fumble that was forced by teammate Sultan Abdul-Malik to end the game. “We wore them out.”

The on-field celebration was almost too much for Childers, who hurt his neck while being roughly congratulated.

“I couldn’t breath and everyone was jumping on me,” he said. “I was freaking out.”

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Look for more of Chad Pierson in the final three games of the season.

A fullback converted to reserve tailback, the redshirt sophomore carried 16 times for 72 yards on Saturday and could get more playing time because Malaefou MacKenzie has a sore shoulder and Petros Papadakis’ foot continues to limit his endurance.

Hackett believes Pierson is an effective change from the quicker starter, Sultan McCullough, saying, “Chad has shown some real power running.”