Trojans Too Much For Eagles in San Fran

While some people thought that USC’s Parade All Americans and five-star prospects would stomp the modest Eagles in the Emerald Bowl, that was not the case. Although this was an atypical Trojan team it was still odd to see pretty boy Pete Carroll and perhaps the most unassuming FBS coach around, Frank Spaziani, on the same field.

The squad from Chestnut Hill was not stunned by former Nobel Prize winner Matt Barkley’s beauty and made a game of it. The Eagles played the Trojans tough and only trailed by one point at the half, 14-13. However, the Eagles could not maintain that pace throughout, and fell 24-13. Their one-dimensional offense, two key turnovers and inability to stop the Trojans big play ultimately did them in.

They fell behind the Trojans early 7-0 after an uncharacteristic missed tackle by Luke Kuechly, which led to a 51-yard scamper by SC fullback Stanley Havili. The Trojans piled it on via Havili again. Barkley found Havili crossing the end zone and hit him between the 3 and 1 on his Burgundy sweater. BC bounced by in the second quarter and made things a bit closer, 14-6. Montel Harris capped a 6 play, 68 yard drive, with a 7 yard plunge into the soggy end zone.

The Eagles’ defense toughened up and gave their offense more chances to succeed. Shinskie’s greatest contribution came late in the second quarter. He found one of BC’s best receivers of all time running a simple post pattern. Gunnell took a catchable ball and ran it the rest of the 61 yards into the end zone to make it a one point game. On that play, the senior amassed the most receiving yards in school history. While he has always been a sure handed, tough wide-out, he showed off his speed on this particular play, as he outran the Trojan secondary. It was especially impressive when considering that workout warrior Taylor Mays supposedly runs a 4.3.

While I doubt Coach Spaz fed his players any leftover Egg Nog at the half, the Eagles were not the same team in the second half. It took a play for the drowsy juice to kick in though. Marty Bowman picked off the first pass of the second frame on the opening play and brought it back to the Trojan nine. Any Eagle fan east of the Marin Headlands was truly ecstatic. That euphoria was erased on the next play unfortunately. Montel Harris was unprepared for Shinskie’s hand off. The ball and hope of the extravagant Emerald Nut trophy fell on that unforgivable turf and into a greedy D-lineman’s paws.

The Eagles had a great opportunity to take a six point lead. Either a lack of concentration, anticipation of the end zone, fear of Everson Griffin, or a slippery ball led to an uncharacteristic Harris miscue. The Trojans added a 38 yard field goal early in the third quarter. However, the Eagles were still in the game entering the fourth quarter. Perhaps it was the corniness of the four held fingers by the Eagles that brought about their demise (the Trojans are not susceptible to such superstitious downfalls).

There was 12:30 on the clock when the game really went from decently promising to tragic. Uncle Dave tried to do his Brett Favre best late playoff game impression. He attempted to fit the ball between three Trojan d-backs into the hands of a shocked Eagle receiver. It was not the first time that Shinskie had locked in on one receiver and refused to look away. However, after this pick, his 14^th of the year, the Trojans went for the jugular.

Matt Barkley thought it would be a good idea to look for Damian Williams. The junior receiver was on his way to 12 catch, 189 yard day. Number 18 cordially welcomed a 48 yard bomb into his lap that Barkley dropped between three flailing Eagles. Barkley then snuck into the pay dirt which gave USC a 24-13 lead they would never relinquish.

Thus, as good and promising as the first half was, the second half was equally as discouraging. Shinskie’s inability to read a defense or accurately hit an open receiver really put the Eagles at a massive disadvantage. For as impressive Harris’ ability is to shake of defenders and move the chains, Shinskie’s inability to convert, especially on third down was just as alarming. The twenty-six-year-old freshman was 14-33 for 218 yards.

While it was a winnable game, the Eagles would have had to bring maybe their best game of the year to knock of the Trojans. They gave about a B- which kept them in it but ultimately caught up to them. They will have their chance to seek redemption in 2013 and 2014 when the schools will play a home-and-home.

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