2008 Week 3

Rey Maualuga celebrate after teammate Kyle Moore caused a safety

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Los Angeles, (AP)

In a much anticipated match-up between the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes and #4 USC Trojans, it did not turn out to be that way.

One of the top story coming in to this week's game was the status of Trojans' RB Joe McKnight and Buckeye's MLB James Laurinaitis.

McKnight was hurt this past week at practice colliding with teammate Brian Cushing, that resulted to the Trojan RB being out 3-4 weeks with a broken collarbone.

Laurinaitis dislocated his hip last week as he made a tackle in their last weeks game against the Ohio Bobcats. Laurinaitis is out for the season and have his NFL career in doubt.

With the lost of these two stars of their own perspective team, the Buckeyes seemed to have suffered a more severe blow this past Saturday.

Trojans QB Mark Sanchez was able to manage the game in spectacular fashion as Laurinaitis stood on the sideline and watched helplessly. Sanchez completed 21-30 passes, 244yds, and 1 TD. Whats more impressive was the fact that he did not throw a single interception against perhaps the best secondary in the nation.

"Mark played orchestrated this game for us beautifully, we came in with a game plan for him to be efficient and executed that game plan without a hitch."- Pete Carroll

The Buckeyes suffered a big lost in the 2nd QTR as their star offensive player Beanie Wells suffered a possible dislocated shoulder after being tackled by Trojan MLB Rey Maualuga. The Buckeyes Offense sparrow downward from that point on.

The Buckeyes couldn't move the ball on USC's defense as they only manage 1 redzone appearance the whole game. That came late in the 4th QTR resulting in Buckeyes only score (TD pass from T. Boeckman to B. Robiskie).

The highly heralded SC defense game up only 25yds on 25 rush att, and 170 passing yds. Buckeyes were als intercepted twice by USC's defense with Taylor Mays picking 1 off early in the 1st QTR. Mays ran the pick back 63yds for Trojans 2nd TD, making the game 14-0.

Senior DE Kyle Moore had one of his biggest game in his career by sacking OSU's quarterbacks 3 times, forcing 1 safety and 1 fumble.

With McKnight's injury, HB C.J. Gable got the opportunity to step into the spot light and get most of McKnight's carries. Gable proved to be a star under pressure on the biggest stage in college football.

Gable carried the ball 17 times and produced 110yds, with a 56yd TD run on his 1st carry of the game.

"Man my 1st carry, I just saw Rhett and Charles open a big gap for me and it was clear daylight. I couldn't miss out on that."- C.J. Gable

This game was never in doubt for the Trojans and helped build their confidence towards a possible 3rd National Champion in this decade. (Although Pete Carroll will never admit to it)

As on the other side of the coin, Ohio State will now go back to Columbus and do some soul searching as to what happened. Buckeyes will try to shake off the stigma of not being able to win the big one

"We will go back to Columbus and get back to work. We gonna take care of business in conference play."- Jim Tressel

Next Game

Trojans heads to Oregon St. to began conference play against the Beavers. The Trojans lost to the Beavers 2 years ago in a stunning upset. Hopefully the Trojans won't have a let down after this hugh victory.