{"id":140591,"date":"2022-11-27T05:05:38","date_gmt":"2022-11-27T05:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/uscs-caleb-williams-has-heisman-moment-in-dominant-win-over-notre-dame\/"},"modified":"2022-11-27T05:05:38","modified_gmt":"2022-11-27T05:05:38","slug":"uscs-caleb-williams-has-heisman-moment-in-dominant-win-over-notre-dame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/uscs-caleb-williams-has-heisman-moment-in-dominant-win-over-notre-dame\/","title":{"rendered":"USC’s Caleb Williams has Heisman moment in dominant win over Notre Dame"},"content":{"rendered":"
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USC quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 232 yards and a touchdown while also running for three scores against Notre Dame on Nov. 26, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Mark J. Terrill)<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

LOS ANGELES \u2014 After Caleb Williams’ latest magic act, a dazzling display of back-pedaling improvisation that turned a certain sack into a big passing play, USC’s awestruck crowd showed its appreciation for the Trojans’ quarterback.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeisman! Heisman! Heisman!\u201d a pocket of fans chanted.<\/p>\n

Williams padded his lead in the race for college football’s most coveted individual award on Saturday night by leading No. 6 USC to a 38-27 victory over rival No. 15 Notre Dame. The Heisman frontrunner did everything but conduct the marching band or sing the national anthem as the Trojans improved to 11-1 and strengthened their case to make the College Football Playoff for the first time.<\/p>\n

It started with Williams’ rare mix of arm talent, pocket awareness and ability to extend plays with his feet. He hit 18 of 22 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown, many of his longest completions coming on plays where Notre Dame’s pass rushers seemed to have him in their grasp, only to have him bob, weave and slip away.<\/p>\n

Williams also gashed Notre Dame’s overmatched defense by rushing for three touchdowns. With USC leading 10-7 late in the second quarter, Williams had the option to hand to running back Austin Jones or keep the ball himself. The Irish defense swarmed to Jones, so Williams pulled the ball back and scampered up the middle untouched for a 6-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n

Then, on USC’s opening drive of the second half, Williams extended his team’s lead to 24-7 by doing the exact opposite. The Notre Dame defense had to respect his keeper so much that a handoff to tailback Raleek Brown basically went uncovered.<\/p>\n

As if those heroics weren’t enough, USC coach Lincoln Riley allowed Williams to showcase some lesser-known talents. The Trojans lined up as if they were going to go for it on fourth-and-8 in the second quarter, but Williams instead unleashed a 58-yard pooch punt, USC’s longest punt of the season so far. Williams punted again in a similar situation midway through the fourth quarter and pinned Notre Dame back at its own 10-yard line.<\/p>\n