USC (2-0) vs. Stanford (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 15, 4:30 p.m. PT
Stanford Stadium (Pala Alto, Calif.)
TV: Fox
Radio: ESPNLA 710 am (pregame show starts at noon PT)
Scouting Stanford:
Second-year coach David Shaw has his Stanford club off to a 2-0 start, including a 50-13 home victory last weekend over Duke. Junior QB Josh Nunes (32-of-56, 57.1 percent, 400 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT in 2012) has taken over the signal-caller reins. Senior RB Stepfan Taylor (40 tcb, 185 yds, 4.6 avg, 2 TD in 2012, plus 5 rec, 29 yds, 5.8 avg) is the Cardinal’s top groundgainer, ranking third on the school’s career rushing (2,955 yards), rushing TDs (29) and 100-yard rushing games (14) lists, while sophomore WR Ty Montgomery (7 rec, 87 yds, 12.4 avg in 2012), senior TE Zach Ertz (6 rec, 75 yds, 12.5 avg in 2012) and senior WR Drew Terrell (6 rec, 72 yds, 12.0 avg, 2 TD in 2012, plus 7 PR, 134 yds, 19.1 avg, 1 TD) are the leading pass catchers. Terrell is 10th nationally in punt returns (12.0, second in Pac-12).
The defense is led by the likes of senior OLB Chase Thomas (11 tac, 3 for loss, 0.5 sack in 2012), a 2011 All-American and All-Pac-12 first teamer, along with senior ILB Shayne Skov (5 tac in 2012), soph SS Jordan Richards (11 tac, 1 for loss, 1 int, 2 dfl in 2012), senior DB Usua Amanam (13 tac, 4 for loss, 2 sack, 1 dfl, 1 FR in 2012), who is tied for 18th nationally in tackles for a loss (2.0, tied for third in Pac-12), and junior FS Ed Reynolds (7 tac, 3 int in 2012), who is tied for first nationally in interceptions (1.5, first in Pac-12). The Cardinal defense is fifth nationally in turnover margin (+2.5, first in Pac-12), sixth in rushing defense (49.0, second in Pac-12) and tied for 20th in tackles for loss (8.5, fourth in Pac-12). Soph PK Jordan Williamson (5-of-6 FG, 7-of-8 PAT in 2012 in 2012) is tied for third nationally in field goals (2.5, first in Pac-12).
-- courtesy USC sports information
