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USC Football: 3 takeaways from Trojans’ lopsided win over Stanford

By Dana Becker

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans scrambles out of the reach of linebacker Andrew Pryts #25 of the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Quarterback Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans scrambles out of the reach of linebacker Andrew Pryts #25 of the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Clay Helton might have saved his job as head coach of USC football Saturday night, and he has quarterback Kedon Slovis and a rejuvenated defense to thank.

808. Final. 20. 871. 45

Kedon Slovis, thrust into the role of starting quarterback a week ago when JT Daniels went down, threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Trojans to a convincing and dominating 45-20 victory over Stanford in a key early-season Pac-12 game.

A highly ranked recruit like most USC quarterbacks, Slovis overcame any of those jitters he showed in the opener vs. Fresno State by completing an incredible 28 of his 33 pass attempts. He took advantage of an over-matched Cardinal defense thanks to receivers Tyler Vaughns, Amon Ra St. Brown and Michael Pittman Jr.

Here are three key takeaways from USC’s lopsided win over Stanford.

3. The Trojans have some big-time wide receivers

Out West, when you go to USC as a wide receiver, you take on an incredible amount of responsibility to follow in the footsteps of some all-time greats. Tyler Vaughns, Amon Ra St. Brown and Michael Pittman, Jr. flashed the kind of big-play skills that have become the norm in southern California over the years.

Vaughns hauled in five passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, St. Brown added eight receptions for 97 yards and found the end zone twice, and Pittman hauled in six passes for 82 yards.

When you have three high-ranked and athletic wideouts like the Trojans present, defenses are going to be over-matched each and every week of the season. The idea that there are teams out there — including the likes of Clemson and Alabama — that can handle that trio clicking on all cylinders is untrue.

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