Bryce Love wasted no time putting his team on the board on Saturday. In the Pac-12 game of the week, Stanford traveled to take on the Usc Trojans. With buzz surrounding the Trojans all preseason, it was going to take some extra effort for Stanford to overcome their conference opponent. While the balance of the game still hangs in the wind, the balance of the second drive of Stanford's offensive game belonged entirely to the Cardinals, who effectively used one offensive weapon to tie up the contest.
Love runs all over the Trojans
After a touchback, Stanford started the game with the ball on their own 25-yard line.
Head coach David Shaw probably devised a plan to attack USC with a mix of rushes and passes, determined to begin wearing down the opponent's defense immediately. His running back, Bryce Love, had other plans, though. He took an opening toss, burst through a hole forming on the left side, and sprinted down the field for a 75-yard score on the team's very first play of the drive.
Bryce Love turned on the jets for this one pic.twitter.com/xyQyGve2Wa
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 10, 2017
The typically fast USC defense looked like they were running in place as Love burst by them and did not think twice about carrying the ball into the end zone. The junior running back was a track star in his youth, so the speed wasn't a terrible surprise.
The Maxwell Award contender had a 62-yard run in his team's opening weekend win over Rice, averaging 13.8 yards per carry in that contest -- once Love has the ball, the only way to stop him is to make sure he doesn't get past defenders.
USC punches back
By the time Love touched the ball, however, Stanford already trailed 7-0 thanks to a touchdown pass from USC quarterback Sam Darnold, commonly seen as a potential top overall pick in the NFL Draft.
For most of the first half, the two teams traded scoring drives. Over the course of about four minutes, stretching from the end of the first quarter to the first few minutes of the second quarter, USC scored two touchdowns while Stanford scored one.
Love's big play couldn't secure the momentum for the Cardinals, though. With USC leading 21-17 and the clock winding down in the first half, Darnold connected with Deontay Burnett for their second combined touchdown of the half, giving the Trojans a 28-17 lead at the half.
The second half has massive implications for both teams, as the inside track for a playoff spot and Pac-12 title may be at stake between these two teams (unless Washington or Washington State puts up a defense).
