USC wide receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee must have felt like they did during their days at Serra High School Saturday at the Coliseum.
They sure performed like they did back then at the Gardena Catholic school in the Trojans’ 48-41 shootout victory over Arizona.
Woods, the sophomore, caught 14 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns and set the tone early when he took a swing pass out of the backfield, broke some tackles and sprinted 82 yards down the sidelines for the score. He had a chance to break R. Jay Soward’s single-game record of 260 yards late in the contest, but a fourth-down pass designed to get him the ball went elsewhere.
He later added a 28-yard scoring pass and for good measure, returned three kickoffs for another 77 yards.
Of his 82-yarder, Woods credited two key blocks for springing him.
“I got great outside blocks from Brice Butler and Brandon Carswell and that’s something we’ve been working on this week, to make guys miss,” he said. “That’s something Marqise and I have been working on, turning small plays into big plays. It’s a lot easier when the blocking is there.”
No receiver in USC history has done what Woods has done in a five-game span with his 55 catches for 747 yards and six TDs.
But Lee, the true freshman who starts opposite Woods, is making an impression as well.
He had career highs of eight catches for 144 yards, including a 38-yard scoring reception and just missed a second TD when he was ruled down at the one after a press box review.
Lee has 21 catches for 323 yards and three TDs. He added a kickoff return of 26 yards.
With those two on the receiving end of most of his throws, Matt Barkley was able to break Carson Palmer’s school single-game passing yardage record of 448 with 468 yards (on 32 of 39 completions), a performance that earned him Pac-12 offensive player of the week honors.
“Our quarterback was phenomenal today, it was another brilliant day by Robert with 14 catches for 255 yards and it was great to see Marqise take the next step for a true freshman,” USC coach Lane Kiffin said.
As great as the trio is, it is Woods opposing teams seem to game plan for.
Barkley pointed that out afterwards.
“Once when he lined up in the backfield, they were yelling, ‘Woods, Woods, Woods is in the backfield,’” Barkley said. “He’s just that great player you’ve got to keep an eye on. He helps us in a lot of ways.”
Woods said he enjoys playing with his former high school teammate.
“It’s exciting to see him grow in this offense,” Woods said. “I’m really proud of him.”
Asked if there is a difference between the two, Woods just laughed and said, “He’s better, he’s faster, he’s stronger. I just love the way he goes up for the ball. I just look for him to get better and keep putting up the numbers for this offense.”
Notes
Because the game was so competitive, Barkley wasn’t focused on knocking Palmer out of the record books.
“I didn’t feel like I was breaking a record because it was such a tight game,” he said. “I grew up looking up to Carson Palmer and hoping one day I‘d be in this position. It’s definitely a dream.”
In addition to the receivers, Barkley praised his offensives line.
“A component of getting all those yards is not getting touched once,” he said.
Despite giving up 425 yards and four TDs to Arizona’s Nick Foles, the USC defense had its moments, namely two interceptions and a pass breakup by safety T.J. McDonald.
After one of the picks, McDonald ran off the field with the ball and handed it to Kiffin.
“Coach said if we won the turnover battle, we’d get ice cream at the hotel,” he said.
With Foles throwing so many times (he was 41 of 53), linebackers and defensive backs were especially busy. Linebacker Dion Bailey had 14 tackles and cornerback Anthony Brown had 10. Defensive tackle Nick Perry also had 10.
USC goes into its bye week 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-12. The Trojans return to action Oct. 13 at California.
They sure performed like they did back then at the Gardena Catholic school in the Trojans’ 48-41 shootout victory over Arizona.
Woods, the sophomore, caught 14 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns and set the tone early when he took a swing pass out of the backfield, broke some tackles and sprinted 82 yards down the sidelines for the score. He had a chance to break R. Jay Soward’s single-game record of 260 yards late in the contest, but a fourth-down pass designed to get him the ball went elsewhere.
He later added a 28-yard scoring pass and for good measure, returned three kickoffs for another 77 yards.
Of his 82-yarder, Woods credited two key blocks for springing him.
“I got great outside blocks from Brice Butler and Brandon Carswell and that’s something we’ve been working on this week, to make guys miss,” he said. “That’s something Marqise and I have been working on, turning small plays into big plays. It’s a lot easier when the blocking is there.”
No receiver in USC history has done what Woods has done in a five-game span with his 55 catches for 747 yards and six TDs.
But Lee, the true freshman who starts opposite Woods, is making an impression as well.
He had career highs of eight catches for 144 yards, including a 38-yard scoring reception and just missed a second TD when he was ruled down at the one after a press box review.
Lee has 21 catches for 323 yards and three TDs. He added a kickoff return of 26 yards.
With those two on the receiving end of most of his throws, Matt Barkley was able to break Carson Palmer’s school single-game passing yardage record of 448 with 468 yards (on 32 of 39 completions), a performance that earned him Pac-12 offensive player of the week honors.
“Our quarterback was phenomenal today, it was another brilliant day by Robert with 14 catches for 255 yards and it was great to see Marqise take the next step for a true freshman,” USC coach Lane Kiffin said.
As great as the trio is, it is Woods opposing teams seem to game plan for.
Barkley pointed that out afterwards.
“Once when he lined up in the backfield, they were yelling, ‘Woods, Woods, Woods is in the backfield,’” Barkley said. “He’s just that great player you’ve got to keep an eye on. He helps us in a lot of ways.”
Woods said he enjoys playing with his former high school teammate.
“It’s exciting to see him grow in this offense,” Woods said. “I’m really proud of him.”
Asked if there is a difference between the two, Woods just laughed and said, “He’s better, he’s faster, he’s stronger. I just love the way he goes up for the ball. I just look for him to get better and keep putting up the numbers for this offense.”
Notes
Because the game was so competitive, Barkley wasn’t focused on knocking Palmer out of the record books.
“I didn’t feel like I was breaking a record because it was such a tight game,” he said. “I grew up looking up to Carson Palmer and hoping one day I‘d be in this position. It’s definitely a dream.”
In addition to the receivers, Barkley praised his offensives line.
“A component of getting all those yards is not getting touched once,” he said.
Despite giving up 425 yards and four TDs to Arizona’s Nick Foles, the USC defense had its moments, namely two interceptions and a pass breakup by safety T.J. McDonald.
After one of the picks, McDonald ran off the field with the ball and handed it to Kiffin.
“Coach said if we won the turnover battle, we’d get ice cream at the hotel,” he said.
With Foles throwing so many times (he was 41 of 53), linebackers and defensive backs were especially busy. Linebacker Dion Bailey had 14 tackles and cornerback Anthony Brown had 10. Defensive tackle Nick Perry also had 10.
USC goes into its bye week 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-12. The Trojans return to action Oct. 13 at California.
http://www.wavenewspapers.com/news/slideshows/Just-like-old-times-for-Woods-Lee-130999758.html
Source: By RON GUILD, Sports Editor, The Wave