The USC Trojans came into Friday night three-touchdown favorites against the Colorado Buffaloes, and that may very well ultimately be the case. But through one quarter it's just 7-7, though the Trojans ended the quarter threatening in the red zone.
Colorado warmed up in their traditional gold helmets, then changed before the game to black helmets to match their black jerseys and pants. The Buffaloes then drove six plays for 69 yards, capped off with a Tyler Hansen slant pass to Toney Clemons, who took it 37 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
It was the first lead for the Buffaloes since October 1, when Colorado led Washington State 27-24 with under two minutes remaining, only to lose their second of six straight games heading into Friday night.
USC answered with a seven-play, 80-yard drive of their own, which featured several highlights. Robert Woods caught two passes and surpassed 1,000 yards receiving, making him the 13th Trojan to do so. USC ran twice and picked up first downs each time, one a 15-yard run by Amir Carlisle and the other an 13-yard scamper by Curtis McNeal, who started his first game of the year at tailback. Matt Barkley capped the drive with a 33-yard pass to Marqise Lee along the right sideline as the Trojans tied the game at 7-7.
Both teams stalled on their second drives, with the Trojans' hindered by a dropped pass by Woods, his third drop of the last two weeks. Woods did catch three passes for 36 yards in the opening quarter.
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