ship threat.The Cats became flag favourites following their round-eight win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval, but a string of losses

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California shrugged off its dismal September with a stellar freshman quarterback and a revived defense.Sam Darnold passed for 352 yards and three touchdowns in his first home start, and USC emerged from its rough start to the season with a 41-20 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night.JuJu Smith-Schuster caught seven passes for 123 yards and a career-high tying three TDs for the Trojans (2-3, 1-2 Pac-12), who emphatically avoided their first 0-3 start to conference play since 2001 with a blowout of the previously unbeaten Sun Devils (4-1, 1-1).When adversity hits, it reveals your character, USC coach Clay Helton said. The character of this team is something Im very excited about.USC racked up 34 consecutive points to take a 41-6 lead during the middle two quarters, and Smith-Schuster scored on catches of 5, 3 and 67 yards. Justin Davis had a 37-yard TD run among his 123 yards rushing for the Trojans.This is where the new season starts, Davis said. Whatever happened in the past is the past. We still have one of the best teams, and Im glad we could show what we can do tonight.Arizona State lost starting quarterback Manny Wilkins shortly before halftime when he was hurt while getting sacked by Rasheem Green. Wilkins watched the second half on crutches with a walking boot on his left foot, but coach Todd Graham provided no postgame information on the injury.After averaging 48.8 points in their first four games, the Sun Devils didnt reach the end zone against USCs inspired defense until Brady White threw a 13-yard TD pass to Raymond Epps with 8:37 to play.Im proud of our team for finishing hard, but we cant put ourselves in that situation, White said.BIG SAMDarnold was confident and exciting in front of the Trojans home fans, rushing for a 3-yard score while going 23 for 33 with no interceptions. A week after replacing Max Browne as the Trojans starter, the redshirt freshman quickly infused excitement into the Trojans inconsistent offense, showing off his big arm and elusiveness while going 23 for 33 with no interceptions.BIG PLAYUSC extended its lead to 34-6 when Smith-Schuster caught a short pass and crisscrossed the field while going to the end zone untouched early in the third quarter.THE TAKEAWAYArizona State: The Sun Devils came crashing back to reality with this embarrassment, and Wilkins long-term health could be an even bigger problem. They struggled to move the ball with either quarterback, and the defense was thoroughly overmatched -- not for the first time this season, either. Arizona State has work to do.USC: Just in time, the Trojans put together a comprehensively strong performance against a quality opponent. Their talent repeatedly shone through, and Darnold injected confidence and fun into a sometimes tentative team. USC still must scrap to get back in the Pac-12 race while keeping Heltons job safe, but the Trojans are in position make a run with three of their next four games at home.UP NEXTArizona State: The Sun Devils return to Tempe to host UCLA. They beat the Bruins in Pasadena last year.USC: The Trojans stay home to face surprising Colorado, which jumped to 4-1 with a blowout win over Oregon State. The Buffaloes are 2-0 in Pac-12 play after losing 40 of their first 45 league games.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Gary Cahill Chelsea Jersey . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Olivier Giroud Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. http://www.chelseafcproshop.com/Kids-Olivier-Giroud-Jersey/ .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Ross Barkley Jersey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Robert Green Chelsea Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Theyve got a dream run home, but complacency looms as Geelongs biggest obstacle as the AFL club attempts to re-establish itself as a premiership threat.The Cats became flag favourites following their round-eight win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval, but a string of losses against lowly teams since then have severely hampered their cause and reputation.Geelongs rut started with a 24-point loss to Collingwood in round nine, before suffering a shock 19-point loss to Carlton a week later.Their troubles against minnows continued in round 14 when they lost to St Kilda by three points.The Cats will start as the hottest of favourites against the injury-crippled Dockers at Domain Stadium on Friday night.And with Geelongs run home littered with sides who will miss the finals, the Cats have an excellent chance to lock down a top-two berth - as long as they can avoid slipping up further against minnows.After hosting tough matches against Adelaide and the Bulldogs in the coming weeks, the Cats end their season with games against last-placed Essendon, Richmond (13th), Brisbane (17th), and Melbourne (10th).Their quest to climb back into the top-four starts against the Dockers, and Geelong coach Chris Scott has made some big calls on the selection front following last weeks loss to Sydney.Forward Mitch Clark has been axed after just one game back in the senior side, while Jimmy Bartel has been rested.Darcy Lang was another to be omitted, with Shane Kersten, Rhys Stanley, and Josh Cowan all brought back.Clark went goalless aagainst the Swans last round.dddddddddddd.And the 28-year-old hit the headlines this week when it was revealed he made an on-field sledge about Geelong teammate Mitch Duncans sister when playing VFL footy last month.The Dockers have been bolstered by the return of Michael Barlow (finger), while Tendai Mzungu has been recalled for his first AFL match since round eight.Ed Langdon (hamstring) and Darcy Tucker (omitted) drop out.Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says Geelongs losses against lowly sides has barely rated a mention at the Dockers this week.Weve got our hands full ourselves - really trying to improve our footy, Lyon said.Theyre a pretty good team. Theyre fighting for top four.Geelongs powerful midfield duo of Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood loom as the biggest obstacle to Fremantles hopes of pulling off an upset win.Barlow has been successfully used in a tagging role during the second half of the season but Lyon feels a team defence approach would be the best way to combat Selwood and Dangerfield, rather than relying on a hard tag.Cats defender Andrew Mackie will notch his 250-game milestone when he runs out against the Dockers.GEELONGS RUN HOMERd 17: Fremantle at Domain StadiumRd 18: Adelaide at Simonds StadiumRd 19: Western Bulldogs at Simonds StadiumRd 20: Essendon at Etihad StadiumRd 21: Richmond at the MCGRd 22: Brisbane at the GabbaRd 23: Melbourne at Simonds Stadium ' ' '