Vernon Adams torches USC as Ducks stay alive in Pac-12

With Stanford’s 35-22 win Saturday night against California, the Cardinal wrapped up the Pac-12 North title, ending Oregon’s chances of a repeat conference championship. Both Cody Kessler and JuJu Smith should have a field day against a porous OR secondary.

Receiver Darreus Rogers struggled through a hamstring injury this season, but the junior looked sound against OR, especially when he made a leaping catch on a 27-yard touchdown play. It is rivalry week which means UCLA vs USC is upon us. “This hurts just as bad as any other loss”.

Nov 21, 2015; Eugene, OR, US; Oregon Ducks defensive back Arrion Springs (1) and defensive lineman Henry Mondeaux (92) tackles USC Trojans running back Justin Davis (22) at Autzen Stadium.

Vernon Adams Jr. deservedly grabbed most of the headlines and Pac-12 offensive player of the week honors after passing for 407 yards and six touchdowns during Oregon’s 48-28 victory over USC.

After UCLA defeated Utah 17-9, they eliminated the Utes from the South Division race. “The same people that were telling us how cruddy we were are the same people that are going to be telling you how great you are”.

The Trojans enter play with a 7-3 record and are 5-5 at the betting window this season, while the Ducks are also 7-3 straight up but are 6-4 against the spread.

His six TD passes were the most ever thrown by an opposing quarterback against USC. Under interim head coach Clay Helton, the Trojans have turned things around and have pulled even with the Pac-12 South leaders, the Utah Utes. “And there’s only so long you can stay in man coverage and stay on those type of athletes. We were in position to make a few plays and just didn’t make our plays”.

Kessler finished 30 of 41 for 238 yards and two scores, but the Ducks sacked him five times and forced the key turnover.

The Ducks’ 38-36 defeat of previously rolling Stanford last week, along with Saturday’s deconstruction of USC, suggests that if Adams had been at 100 percent in the first half of the season, OR might well be in position for a College Football Playoff berth.

USC tied it again, as Kessler hit Tyler Petite on a 12-yard TD pass. On each of the next three possessions, the Ducks gained 11 yards to move the chains on the first play of a drive, then failed to convert a third down.

The Trojans marched for a score, running the ball well, narrowing the deficit to 38-21 on Ronald Jones’ 12-yard TD run.

Trainers taped Smith-Schuster’s left ankle on the sideline and he returned. Smith-Schuster ended the game with five catches for just 57 yards and no touchdowns. The Ducks closed out the first half with Aidan Schneider’s 37-yard field goal for a 31-14 lead.

In the five games since he’s been back, Adams has thrown for 300 or more yards and four or more quarterbacks in three games.

But Adams then found two-way player Charles Nelson in the end zone with a 26-yard pass and the Ducks pushed their lead to 45-28.

The loss dropped USC to 4-2 under Helton, who took over at Southern California after the dismissal of Steve Sarkisian.