Southern California Trojans vs Syracuse Orange Match Player Stats On Sep 08, 2012

No. 2 Southern California 42, Syracuse 29: Matt Barkley celebrated his 22nd birthday with a school-record tying six touchdown passes and No. 2 USC rode its big-play offense to fend off upset-minded Syracuse in the inaugural New York's College Classic in East Rutherford, N.J.

Robert Woods had a monster game for the Trojans (2-0), hauling in 10 receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns and setting up a pair of fourth-quarter scores to break the game open.

Fellow wideout Marqise Lee was equally superb with 11 catches for 66 yards and three touchdowns as USC routed the Orange for the second-consecutive season.

The Trojans had to overcome a 69-minute weather delay at the start of the second half and a gritty effort by Syracuse (0-2), which scored twice in a span of just over two minutes late in the third quarter to get within 21-16.

Orange quarterback Ryan Nassib finished 30 of 46 for 322 yards with two touchdowns, both to Marcus Sales, and two interceptions. Sales had eight catches for 104 yards and his second touchdown cut the deficit to 35-22 with over seven minutes left.

After Nassib directed a pair of scoring drives to cut a 21-3 deficit to five points in the third quarter, the Trojans provided an emphatic response.

Woods returned a punt 31 yards to set up Barkley's 22-yard scoring pass to tight end Xavier Grimble and then raced 76 yards on an end around, leading to a 4-yard pass to Lee and a 35-16 lead with 11:38 to play.

Barkley threw for only 187 yards on 23-of-30 passing but he needed only a combined 3 minutes, 22 seconds to produce the Trojans' final three touchdowns.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Barkley became the only USC QB to throw for six TDs on three occasions. ... Trojans K Andre Heidari missed part of last week's game with a knee injury and did not accompany the team to New Jersey. ... Syracuse senior WR Alec Lemon received medical clearance Friday to play in the game. Lemon, who set a school record with 68 catches last season, sat out the season opener due to a lower body injury. ... New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez was on USC's sideline to watch his alma mater. ... Nassib moved into second place on the school's career list with his 549th completion in the final minute of the first half.