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USC Football Hosts No. 10 Utah in Key Early Pac-12 South Battle
September 15, 2019 | Football, Features
*It's just USC's 12th Friday game since 1990 and only the third time that the Trojans have hosted a Friday game since 1999.
*Earlier in the day, new USC President Dr. Carol L. Folt will be inaugurated on campus.
*Because the game is on a school day, on-campus tailgating will not be allowed and parking will be restricted, but there are many alternatives available for fans (see USCTrojans.com/gameday).
*A special Friday edition of FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" college football pre-game studio show will air from the field of the Coliseum an hour before kickoff.
*USC has lost just once in 9 Los Angeles contests with Utah and that defeat came in the first L.A. meeting more than a 100 years ago.
*USC and Utah both had Harvey Holmes serve as head coach at various times in the early 1900s.
*Head coach Clay Helton's Trojans dropped a heartbreaker in overtime last week at BYU, its first road game of 2019. USC's offense is guided by true freshman QB Kedon Slovis, who is completing 77% of his passes (fifth nationally), and features one of the nation's top receiving groups, including WRs Michael Pittman Jr., Tyler Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown (the trio already has 58 catches and 5 TDs combined this year), and a multifaced running attack behind TBs Vavae Malepeai, Stephen Carr and Markese Stepp (almost 500 rushing yards with 6 TDs combined). A number of young players are making an impact on Troy's defense, including DLs Jay Tufele and Drake Jackson, Ss Talanoa Hufanga and Isaiah Pola-Mao, ILB Palaie Gaoteote IV and CB Olaijah Griffin. PK Chase McGrath nailed a career-long 52-yard field goal to send the BYU game into overtime.
*Utah, led by head coach Kyle Whittingham (the Pac-12's longest-tenured coach at 15 years), remained undefeated in 2019 after its decisive home victory over Idaho State. The Utes' offense, which has yet to allow a sack or throw an interception, is features QB Tyler Huntley, who is an effective passer and runner (he is in the national Top 10 in completion percentage and passing efficiency), slippery RB Zack Moss, the nation's No. 8 rusher who owns a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons and ranks second on the school's career rushing list, and WR Britain Covey, who made the 2018 All-Pac-12 first team as a return specialist. Utah's defense, which has not allowed an opponent to rush for more than 100 yards this season, is in the Top 10 nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense and is 15th in turnover margin. There are a trio of 2018 All-Pac-12 first teamers on the defense: DE Bradlee Anae, DT Leki Fotu and CB Jaylon Johnson, who has 5 career interceptions. Other key defenders are LB Devin Lloyd, LB Francis Bernard and S Julian Blackmon, who has 7 career picks.
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