Trojans Lose by Decision

A game, and maybe a season, can turn on the briefest of moments.

A punter decides to run for the first down but gets tackled for no gain. An offensive lineman misses a block and his tailback is stopped inches short of the end zone.

Such moments proved to be USC’s undoing Saturday. The Trojans stormed to an early lead against rival Notre Dame only to fail at critical moments and finally crumple, 27-16, on an otherwise perfect afternoon of sunshine and blue skies at Notre Dame Stadium.

All the momentum they had built in the early part of the game “seemed like it dried up,” Coach Pete Carroll said. And with it went all but a longshot hope for salvaging the season.

“This was a game I was hoping would jump-start us,” Carroll said. “It could have been significant in a lot of ways.”

Instead, Notre Dame walked away with the confidence, winning a third consecutive game and evening its record at 3-3. The Irish prevailed by making the plays that USC could not and seizing control in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Carlyle Holiday led the way, running 18 times for 98 yards and completing crucial third-down passes.

His offensive prowess overshadowed three costly fumbles.

“We knew this was a big opportunity for us,” he said. “More than just the rivalry aspect, it was a big chance to gain some momentum that we feel can carry us for the rest of the season.”

The Trojans, meanwhile, are 2-5 and left to mull over a game that seemed entirely winnable. They had started strong, giving up an early field goal but establishing the run, pounding tailback Sunny Byrd into the line. Byrd gained 48 of his 62 yards in the first half, which helped soften the defense for the pass.

Midway through the first quarter, quarterback Carson Palmer rolled right, eluded a blitzer and threw back across the field. The only defender in the vicinity mistimed his jump, the ball floated into Chad Pierson’s hands and the fullback ran for a touchdown, completing a 54-yard play.

Minutes later, after the first of Holiday’s fumbles, Palmer ran onto the field and noticed the Notre Dame players looking toward the sideline for a signal from their defensive coach. So he clapped his hands for a quick snap and hurriedly tossed the ball to an uncovered Keary Colbert for a 20-yard touchdown.

That quickly, USC led, 13-3, and seemed in control against a sputtering opponent.

The Irish have been almost exclusively a running team this season, scoring all but one of their touchdowns on the ground. But tailbacks Julius Jones and Tony Fisher, who missed practice this week because of injuries, could find no room early on.

And though he is talented, the young Holiday at times has trouble holding onto the football. The night before the game, Carroll told his defensive players they could force him into fumbling. Three turnovers, he said, should be sufficient for a victory.

The Trojans got three fumbles--converting two into scores--but it wasn’t enough.

Their downfall began late in the first half when punter Mike MacGillivray decided to take off running on fourth and four from his 28. The coaches had not told him to do so. But they had given him the option.

“If it looks wide open, you run it,” MacGillivray said. “It looked wide open to me, then the cornerback [Shane Walton] came up and made a real good play.”

Notre Dame needed only four plays to capitalize, backup tailback Terrance Howard scooting four yards with an option pitch. The score was 13-10 at halftime and the Irish had begun to swing the momentum in their favor. They finished the job early in the third quarter.

Another Holiday fumble launched a USC drive that eventually got within a yard of the end zone. The situation seemed tailor-made for a team that has been reviving its ground game. The Trojans ran well in a last-second loss to Washington, then closed out last week’s victory over Arizona State with a long, bruising drive.

So with first down on the one, they wanted to power the ball in. Fullback Charlie Landrigan tried first, then Byrd carried twice. The result? No gain. Asked what happened, guard Zach Wilson shook his head and replied: “I don’t know. ... It seemed like a couple of missed blocks.

The Trojans seemed shaken and the coaches decided to go for a safe three points.

“We talked about it,” Carroll said. “We figured it would be better to get something.”

Notre Dame responded with a 71-yard touchdown drive. Holiday provided most of the punch, completing two third-down passes and sprinting the final 35 yards on an option play, giving his team a 17-16 lead.

“It shows I am a strong person, that I am able to bounce back from my mistakes,” he said, referring to the fumbles.

He would turn the ball over once more, a mistake that prevented another Irish score.

But his defense had adjusted to the run, bringing extra men into the box, and the Trojans looked panicky. They went three-and-out on three incomplete passes. The next time they got the ball, with their backs against the goal line, Palmer heaved the ball downfield and it was intercepted by safety Abram Elam.

The more the USC offense struggled, the more the defense seemed to wear down. Suddenly, Jones was finding holes, gaining most of his 95 yards in the fourth quarter. The Irish drove for a late field goal, then another touchdown, Jones scoring from five yards out.

Every time the Trojans got their hands on the ball, Palmer came under a heavy rush. He was sacked five times and threw two interceptions. “We just couldn’t get anything going,” he said.

Afterward, Carroll was asked about his team’s failure to score from close range. In more than 24 minutes that followed, the Trojans managed one first down and were outscored, 17-0. The coach said: “That was the critical point.”

On such moments are games decided.

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By the Numbers

3: Number of USC victories in its last 19 games against Notre Dame.

4: Victories USC needs in its last four games to finish with a winning record.

6: Years since both teams were ranked in the top 25 going into the USC-Notre Dame game.

12: The Trojans’ rushing yardage total in the second half of Saturday’s game.

40: Years since Trojans, who were 5-7 last year, have had back to back losing seasons.