When one starting linebacker couldn’t play because of injury (Oscar Lua, knee) and another (Thomas Williams) went out with a knee injury in the first quarter, the Trojans turned to two freshmen and a sophomore. Rey Maualuga, who played in the middle and made the defensive calls, was the standout with six tackles, a sack and an interception, more than a week after occupying local headlines for non-football reasons.

The other freshman, Brian Cushing, led the Trojans with seven tackles; sophomore Keith Rivers had six.

“The fact that all of these young guys are contributing is a little bit scary for the future,” Carroll says.

[USA Today via Student Body Right]