Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Southern California Trojans Match Player Stats On Sep 03, 2011

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 3, 2011

Matt Barkley completed 34-of-45 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns as host USC held off Minnesota, 19-17, Saturday afternoon.

Barkley threw all three of his touchdown passes to Robert Woods, who finished with a school-record 17 catches for 177 yards.

The win was the 14th straight in a season opener for USC, which is serving the second of a two-year postseason ban, the result of infractions committed under former coach Pete Carroll.

The Trojans also defeated Minnesota for the fifth straight time, but not before the Golden Gophers made things interesting in the second half.

Trailing 19-3 at halftime, Minnesota scored a pair of second-half touchdowns to pull within 19-17 with 8:03 left in the fourth quarter. Duane Bennett had a 9-yard third-quarter touchdown run and Brandon Green reeled in a 12-yard pass from Max Shortell midway through the fourth.

After forcing a punt, Minnesota had one last chance to win, but its final drive ended when Torin Harris intercepted a Shortell pass near midfield with 53 seconds left.

The loss spoiled the debut of new Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill, who took over in the offseason after a three-year run at Northern Illinois.

Minnesota, a sizable underdog, certainly had its chances.

The Gophers failed to convert on two first-half field goal attempts, one of which was blocked on their opening drive. The Trojans scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession.

USC running back D.J. Morgan, filling in for the suspended Marc Tyler, finished with 70 rushing yards on 18 carries.