Thursday-Friday Recap: USC trips Utah with 3rd-string QB, Boise Pulls Away From Air Force

September 21, 2019 by Dave Congrove

USC had to go to yet a third QB after Kedon Slovis was knocked out of the game on the second play from scrimmage. Enter Matt Fink who finished the drive with a touchdown pass and would add two more in a 30-23 upset win over visiting Utah on Friday night at the Coliseum.

For the game, Fink was 21-of-30 for 351 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 INT. Two-thirds of the yards (232) and almost half the receptions (10) went to Michael Pittman, Jr. Pittman's lone TD came when he hauled in a 47-yard pass from Fink and went the remaining 30 yards for a 3rd quarter score that put USC up 21-10, causing quite a stir at this Australia casino.

After the game, head coach Clay Helton would only say that Slovis got 'dinged" on the play and an update on his situation would come on Tuesday.

Utah also lost a key player in the game when running back Zack Moss left in the 2nd quarter with what was later reported to be a shoulder injury. Moss missed the last 5 games of the 2018 season after suffering a knee injury climbing into bed and it was widely believed he would part for the NFL rather play another year of college ball. Instead, Moss started the 2019 season and was averaging just under 125 yards per game. He had 20 yards and 6 carries on Friday night before the injury. Moss ranks 4th on the all-time Utah career rushing list.

USC moved to 2-0 in PAC-12 play and 3-1 overall. The previously undefeated Utes dropped to 0-1 in the conference and 3-1 overall.

Only three PAC-12 teams are unbeaten - Arizona State, Cal and Washington State.

Heading into Saturday's slate, there are 6 undefeated teams in the Big 10, 5 in the SEC and Big 12, and just 3 in the ACC.

Also on Friday night, Boise State scored 20 unanswered points bridging the 3rd and 4th quarters to come-from-behind for the 30-19 win over visiting Air Force in a key Mountain West battle. It was the conference opener for both schools as the Mountain West horse racing began.

Louisiana Tech is still perfect against FIU following the 43-31 win in Reston. The Bulldogs have won all 4 matchups by at least 10 points. The surprisingly weak Panthers fell to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in the conference. The Bulldogs improved to 3-1, 1-0.

On Thursday night, up-and-coming Tulane defeated Houston 38-31 in New Orleans. The Green Wave (3-1, 1-0) now find themselves tied with Navy atop the American Conference west division standings while the Cougars go to the basement (1-3, 0-1).