USC center Khaled Holmes and quarterback Matt Barkley are lucky that it doesn’t matter how you start but how you finish. Because their starts to Thursday’s game at Utah couldn’t have been any worse.
On the Trojans’ second play from scrimmage, Barkley received a low snap from Holmes and tried picking the ball up off the ground. But before he could get a good grip on it, Utah defensive end Nate Fakahafua stripped Barkley and returned the fumble for a touchdown.
It was one of two fumbles during the center-quarterback exchange on USC’s first four plays from scrimmage, with Utah converting both turnovers into TDs. But Barkley would eventually engineer a 38–28 Trojans victory on the strength of 303 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Needless to say, this play won’t back included in USC’s 2012 highlight reel.
[Guyism]
