By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Tucson, AZ

Quarterback Matt Scott threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the second half as the Arizona Wildcats erased a 15-point deficit with 26 unanswered points en route to a 39-36 upset victory over No. 9 USC Trojans Saturday at Arizona Stadium.

Scott completed 27 of 50 throws for 369 yards and three touchdowns and added 100 ground yards on 15 carries and a score for the Wildcats, who improved to 5-3 (2-3, Pac 12).

Playmaker Matt Barkley finished 31-for-49 for 493 yards with three touchdown passes, two to wide receiver Marqise Lee, who set a school and Pac-12 conference record with 345 yards on 16 catches.

Lee eclipsed USC's single-game record for receiving yards set by R. Jay Soward, who tallied 260 yards on six catches against UCLA in 1996.

The Wildcats opened with a 10-0 lead behind Scott's eight-yard touchdown throw to freshman wide receiver Johnny Jackson and a 27-yard field goal by John Bonano.

Barkley put the Trojans (6-2, 4-2 Pac 12) ahead, 14-10, with back-to-back touchdown passes to tight end Xavier Grimble and Lee in the second period.

After Bonano's 44-yard field goal, running back DJ Morgan gave the Trojans a 21-13 halftime lead with a short three-yard touchdown rush.

In the third quarter, the Trojans took their biggest lead, 28-13, when Barkley connected with Lee for a 44-yard touchdown pass.

Scott suddenly waxed hot, capping a five-play, 71-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring run and added a nine-yard touchdown throw to wide receiver Dan Buckner to trim the gap to 28-26.

In the fourth period, Scott led the Cardinals' seven-play, 72-yard drive that led to a seven-yard touchdown rush by running back Ka'Deem Carey that put the Cardinals ahead, 32-26.

Scott then completed the Cardinals' scoring onslaught with a seven-yard touchdown heave to wide receiver David Richards for a 39-28 lead with less than six minutes in the game.

Running back Silas Redd scored on a 10-yard scoring rush and Barkley completed the two-point conversion to bring the Trojans to within three.

With 55 seconds remaining, Barkley tried to engineer a game-winning drive at USC 13 but threw two straight incomplete passes to Lee at the Arizona 48 as time ran out.

 

 

QB Matt Scott Helps Arizona Upset Southern Cal