Arizona State Sun Devils vs Southern California Trojans Box Score on Nov 07, 2020

Kedon Slovis completed two fourth-down touchdown passes sandwiched around an onside kick in the final 2:52 Saturday, as No. 20 Southern California rallied from a 13-point deficit to open the Pacific-12 Conference season with a dramatic 28-27 victory over visiting Arizona State.

After the Trojans stumbled through much of the game, turning the ball over four times and trailing 27-14, Bru McCoy caught Slovis' 26-yard pass for a touchdown, and followed that by recovering the ensuing onside kick to set up USC for the game-winning drive.

Slovis had 381 yards on a school-record 40 completions on 55 passes, but it took a desperate heave into the end zone on fourth-and-13 to spark the team. The pass was tipped up, but the freshman McCoy was there to snag the carom for USC's first points since the middle of the second quarter.

McCoy then came up with the ensuing onside kick, and Vavae Malepeai ran for 33 of his 60 yards to power the drive. Slovis capped the drive on a fourth-and-9 play when the sophomore fired a strike through a tight window to a streaking Drake London for the 21-yard score with 1:20 to play.

Sloppy play shaped the season opener for both teams, but particularly so for the host Trojans (1-0, 1-0 Pac-12), who turned the ball over three times in scoring territory, twice inside the ASU 10-yard line. Although USC held a 556-381 advantage in total yards, Arizona State (0-1, 0-1) led most of the game and had a chance at the end to pull it out.

ASU's dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels, who rushed for 111 yards in the game, completed an 18-yard pass to Geordon Porter, getting the Sun Devils to their 43 with still a minute remaining. But from there, four consecutive Daniels passes fell incomplete.

Daniels finished 11-of-23 passing for 134 yards, playing without top target Frank Darby. He threw a 55-yard touchdown to Rachaad White. Freshman running back DeaMonte Trayanum rushed for two touchdowns and 84 yards on 12 carries.

Malepeai's contributions to the game-winning drive made up for one of the critical turnovers that dug USC into a hole. The Trojans recovered a muffed punt after their first possession, but Malepeai fumbled short of the goal line.

It was the first of two fumbles forced by Arizona State defensive back Evan Fields. Linebacker Merlin Robertson intercepted a Slovis pass at the 10-yard line just before halftime, and the Sun Devils also took over on downs in the second half with a pair of stuffed runs.

The last of USC's four turnovers came on Fields' second forced fumble. He jarred the ball loose from Markese Stepp with 11:23 remaining, putting the Sun Devils in position to run down the clock.

Their ensuing possession lasted just 1:36 and four plays, however, and they did not get possession back until they were trailing.

USC sophomore London caught eight passes for 125 yards to lead all players, and teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown added 100 yards on seven catches.

--Field Level Media