Quiz: Would you survive Squid Game?

Siren Pictures/Courtesy

You’ve probably heard of Squid Game, a Korean Netflix show that is blowing up on the Internet. It’s about cash-strapped players that compete in various children’s games with deadly consequences, but the prize is a life-changing amount of money. You cannot escape the memes, reactions and posts based on the show. However, many are claiming that they would personally win all the games and get the jackpot. This quiz will determine if you’re really going to come out on top and survive Squid Game.

Contact Nicholas Clark at nclark@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Despite recent tragedy and a 105-year winless drought in Southern California, Cameron Rising and the Utes rose to the occasion, stunning USC and keeping their Pac-12 Championship hopes alive with a statement victory over the Trojans. 

“It’s super special,” cornerback Clark Phillips said. “I feel like the guys play[ed] with a lot of passion, you know, with the recent events that took place — it was just good to get a victory, man. It was special to us and I’m just glad we came out of here victorious.”

The Utes made it obvious they came to play right from the start as the defense brought the pressure on every down during the first Trojan series. While quarterback Kedon Slovis did find wide receiver Drake London for a few first downs, the Utah defense consistently got in the backfield and forced USC to punt following a tipped pass by Mika Tafua.

After a quick three-and-out by the Utah offense, the defense would yet again hold their own against Slovis and his onslaught of receivers. Upon a solid USC drive down to the Utah 11-yard line, the Utes came up with a big stop on a third and seven despite the Trojans coming out in a four wide receiver set. As Slovis dropped back into the pocket, defensive tackle Aliki Vimahi brought the pressure and linebacker Karene Reid knocked down the off-balanced pass.

Following the failed third down attempt, the Trojans would settle for a 28-yard field goal and take a 3-0 lead with 3:48 remaining in the first quarter.

Impressively, and after shaking off the dust, the Utes responded on the ensuing possession to take their first lead of the night. Tight-end Dalton Kincaid started the drive off strong, breaking away from his defender and pulling in a 28-yard reception to give Utah excellent field position. Shortly thereafter, tight-end Brant Kuithe found the end zone on a hand-off, sweeping up the right side for 11-yards and crossing the goal line. Following the score, Utah led 7-3 with just 17 seconds left in the initial quarter.

Into the second, Utah’s defense again exerted its red-zone dominance as they refused to give an inch from their own 16-yard line. After failing to convert a third and seven, thanks to more pressure from the Utah defensive-line, USC’s kicker shanked the field goal and the score remained unchanged.

While the Utah offense would take over on downs, several penalties restrained them from progressing, and a botched punt placed USC at the 50-yard line.

As the Trojans took over, they quickly moved the football and Slovis connected with his most dangerous target, Drake London, who brought down a 20-yard reception and hopped two Utah defenders at the goal line for a touchdown. Following the score, the Trojans would lead 10-7 with just a little more than half of the second quarter remaining.

From this point on however, it was all Cameron Rising and the Utes as they put their foot on the gas pedal and refused to look back. Right off the bat, Rising went for it all as he completed a 42-yard pass to Theo Howard down the sideline, perfectly hitting him in stride and just out of reach of the defenders. 

Just a few plays later, Rising would again look to pass as he connected with Money Parks in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. Following the PAT, the Utes retook the lead, 14-10 with just 3:57 left in the second quarter.

On the money for @MonterrenParks

(Sponsored by @Allstate #AllstateGoodHands) pic.twitter.com/WzbhmSZtmN

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 10, 2021

After a quick series by the Trojans, courtesy of an 8-yard sack by Sack Lake City candidate Mika Tafua, the Utes were back in business. Instead of electing to take a knee and go into the locker room with a slight lead, Rising and the offense stayed aggressive. 

On what was originally supposed to be a run, but was accidentally called a flea-flicker by Rising, the sophomore quarterback dropped back into the pocket and heaved a pass 37-yards down field to a streaking Devaughn Vele for the touchdown. This would prove to be a tipping point for the Utes as they took a commanding 21-10 lead with all the momentum into halftime.

@crising7 with the DART to @devaughn_vele @Utah_Football comes up with the big time TD just before the end of the first half pic.twitter.com/QJQhQX7GRj

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 10, 2021

Out of the half, the Utes maintained their composure and kept that same energy. After a few first-down passes by Rising, running back Tavion Thomas came into the game and instantly made an impact. Just after converting a critical third down, Thomas plowed through a defender, kept his feet, and cruised 43-yards for the score.

Tavion Thomas said SEE YA @Utah_Football starts the second half with a bang pic.twitter.com/AD2RJU9ZdK

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 10, 2021

On the ensuing USC drive, free-safety Vonte Davis came up big as he intercepted Slovis and returned the ball 32 yards. Additionally, London would take a cheap shot at Davis out of bounds, tacking on an additional 15-yards into Trojan territory. Not long after, Rising would cash in with his legs, taking it up the middle and spinning out of a tackle to reach the end zone. This would give the Utes a 35-10 advantage with 9:13 left in the third quarter.

@crising7 would not be denied!

He takes it himself and extends @Utah_Football‘s lead pic.twitter.com/SYP3JkdW2G

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 10, 2021

Even though the rest of the third was uneventful with neither team scoring through the remaining nine minutes, the Trojans did find the end zone twice in the fourth. However, it was too little too late as Rising would find Kincaid for a touchdown and the Utes established an insurmountable 45 points. 

Following another score by the Trojans, Utah would assume victory formation, earning their first ever Pac-12 win at the Coliseum, 42-26, and putting the rest of the conference on notice.

While it was certainly a team effort and a well executed all-around performance, Rising was magnificent against USC all night long. For the game, Rising finished 22-28 (79%) for 306-yards and three touchdowns. He also added 27 yards on six carries and managed to find the end zone once with his legs. 

“He [Rising] is an alpha dog,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “He is a leader in every sense of the word. He does command the room, he’s the leader of the offense. He is exactly what you want in a quarterback when you talk about the it factor, the general you want leading the troops.”

With the victory, the Utes improve to 3-2 on the season and 2-0 in the Pac-12 Conference. Utah will now head back to Salt Lake City for a pivotal South Division matchup against Arizona State. The game is currently scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16 with kick-off set for 8 p.m. MDT and will be broadcast on ESPN.

c.bagley@dailyutahchronicle.com

@bagley_cole

The post Utes Thump Trojans, Erase 105-Year Winless Streak in California with Victory Against USC appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Gophers soccer (6-4-3) dropped their fourth match this season against No. 25 Purdue Sunday evening as they conceded three goals for the first time, all coming in the second half of play.

“We are disappointed with the result today,” Gophers head coach Erin Chastain said. “Anytime you go into halftime with a 2-0 lead, it can be a dangerous scoreline because you can sometimes feel a little too comfortable. Even though we prepared our group for that, Purdue came out and set the tone in the second half.”

The backline played outstanding throughout the first half for the Gophers, preventing Boilermakers star Sarah Griffith and company from gaining high-quality looks at junior goalkeeper Megan Plaschko.

Just like the backline’s strong play, the Gophers’ offense pressed on the attack and created many opportunities in the first half as they found the back of the net just 16 minutes into the match.

Senior Megan Gray found her way into the bottom right side of the box and dribbled the ball between two Boilermakers defenders, forcing them to trip her up before she had a chance to continue her creative play. The referees then awarded the Gophers a penalty kick.

Chastain selected sophomore Sophia Boman to take the penalty kick. She made no mistake on her opportunity as she fired a low shot into the left side of the net to give the Gophers an early 1-0 lead. Boman’s go-ahead marker signifies her fourth goal this season.

Continuing to play stingy defense for much of the first half and eliminating any high-quality chances from Boilermakers attackers, the Gophers finally registered their first shot since Boman’s opening goal, which also found the back of the net.

Sophomore Maddie Baker received a service in the box from graduate student Makenzie Langdok and redirected the ball toward the penalty kick dot. Her sophomore counterpart Christa VanLoon possessed and fired a low shot into the lower-left corner of the net to put the Gophers ahead 2-0. VanLoon’s goal is her first this season as Baker also tallied her third assist.
The Gophers had a near-perfect first half. They held Purdue to just one shot on goal and one corner kick. However, the second half was nowhere near the same.

The Boilermakers started to break through the Gophers’ backline as Emily Mathews scored Purdue’s first goal at the 63-minute mark.

Just seven minutes later, the Boilermakers equalized the match after senior Delaney Stekr misdirected a header in the box into the back of the Gophers’ net.

The Gophers didn’t register their first shot until the 78th minute. Then, they continued to control possession of the ball in Purdue’s half, tallying two more shots on goal.

However, the Boilermakers went back on the counter-attack. Griffith created space at the top of the box and fired a shot into the left corner of the net to give Purdue its first lead with less than six minutes remaining in the match, which eventually was the match-winner.

“We never really had anyone step up and set the tone on our side in the second half,” Chastain said. “They are a top-25 team for a reason and have gotten a lot of results this season. I really felt like we just didn’t perform in the second half today.”

The loss marks the first time the Gophers have lost a match this season after leading at halftime. Before this match, they were an undefeated 5-0-0 when leading at halftime.

The Gophers will host Illinois at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. as they look to get back in the win column.

Wonder How to Buy Instagram Views from Best Sites (Revealed and Reviewed)

If you haven’t noticed by now, Instagram is booming. How booming, you ask? Recent statistics show that the website benefits from one billion users per day.

That’s right: from influencers to small business owners to adorable pet accounts, it seems as though everyone in the world is scrolling, viewing, and liking their days away.

That means that the competition to get noticed is as fierce as ever. Luckily, there’s an easier way to get views and build your following. Buying views is one of the fastest and most effective ways to grow your account. Below is our top selection for the best places to buy Instagram views.

Find the Best sites first to buy Instagram views for the betterment of your profile:

Likes.io

Likes.io is undoubtedly one of the most popular companies that allow Instagram users to grow their accounts through purchases of views, likes, and more. It’s been featured on countless review websites and has even been featured in US Weekly as one of their top picks for companies that boost social media engagement, views, and followers.

People are fans of Likes.io for several reasons. For one, the company prioritizes users’ privacy. While other companies require your personal information, such as your account password, Likes.io does not collect your social media passwords or any additional account information to provide their services. Because of this, Likes.io has a formidable security system, so you never have to worry when choosing Likes.io.

Another benefit of Likes.io is that each purchase comes guaranteed with instant delivery, which means your account starts to receive views as soon as your payment goes through. This is a big bonus as many of Likes.io competitors struggle to provide timely delivery. If you’re someone who needs your views as soon as you pay for them, you may consider Likes.io.

Alternatively, Likes.io also allows you to receive views gradually if you so choose. Their flexibility makes them a standout choice since different marketing plans call for different delivery plans. Another excellent benefit that Likes.io provides is the company allows you to split views on multiple pictures, so once content doesn’t feel too unbalanced. You also have the option to purchase views for video content as well.

All in all, Likes.io is an upstanding company that prioritizes their customers’ privacy and security.

Stormlikes

If you’re looking for an internet marketing service with great reviews and competitive pricing, Stormlikes can help you grow your Instagram account.

Stormlikes.net is one of the highest-rated services and provides their customers with views, likes, and follows from real accounts from real people. What makes Stormlikes so effective is they have some of the lowest prices on the market. Starting at just $1.99, users can purchase packages for a total of 500 views.

On top of that, their views can be used on video content as well, which is very helpful since it’s been proven that video content fairs better on social media sites.

Stormlikes is also one of the only internet marketing services that deliver on the promise of instant delivery.

If you’re shaky using one of these sites, you can choose Stormlikes with confidence. They have a history long rooted in content promotion. In fact, the company has been around since 2015.

Stormlikes.net is a credible veteran company that has been helping with social media promotions since 2015. Like all upstanding internet marketing companies, Stormlikes never requires your account information or password. They seem to have strong reviews on TrustPilot, with over half of their hundreds of reviews garnering a perfect 5/5 score.

Some reviewers are unhappy that some of the views come from accounts out of the country (as this can make your account feel less legitimate and also may not help grow your niche audience). However, most people seem happy with Stormlikes.
Followers.io

When you choose Followers.io, they have standout features such as high-quality, premium likes from real people and real accounts. The company uses two package systems, but no matter the package, when you buy Instagram views you are guaranteed to receive instant delivery (you can choose gradual instead if you prefer), 24/7 live support, views from high-quality accounts, and you do not need to disclose your account password.

Plus, they have high ratings on their website and have been featured in a variety of publications, such as Influencive, Hackernoon, and Jeff Bullas.

Of course, every company has pros and cons to Instagram views. One drawback is their pricing is a bit higher than other similar sites. However, with a higher price, you get higher quality. Their authentic profiles deliver great organic growth and create real, tangible traction for your Instagram account.
Additionally, Followers has a strong customer service team who is here to help you every step of the way. From questions to problems with your order, the friendly, effective customer service team is here to assist you and all your needs.

From authentic accounts to fast delivery and outstanding customer service, Followers is one pick for the best site to buy Instagram views.
Social Viral

Whether you want to buy Instagram views, Social-Viral is one of the best sites to do so. When you choose Social-Viral, you see results immediately. As a result, most customers see an uptick in followers in as little as 12 hours.

Part of the reason why customers see such rapid results is the fact that they never use spam, bots, or empty profiles. All of the accounts they target are from real people, which means that your account is never in danger of being flagged by Instagram.

Not only do the packages have immediate results, but they are also incredibly inexpensive. How inexpensive? Social-Viral starts packages off at $1.99. From there, you can purchase packages all the way up to 99.99 for a whopping 150,000 views.

Social-Viral also allows customers to tailor where the views go. They use a premium image selector that allows you to choose which photos and videos you would like to spread the views across.

For all these reasons, Social-Viral is one of the best sites to buy Instagram views.

Trollishly
Trollishly is a social media website where you can purchase views, likes, and followers on your Instagram account. They offer to boost your social media following through genuine, authentic views to help gain you real traction for real results.

They also offer their customers tantalizing prices. For a mere 75 cents, you can purchase a package of up to 100 views. Their most common package is to buy 1000 views for one dollar. Compared to similar companies, Trollishy offers some of the best prices around.

As a result, Trollishly is one of the best sites to buy Instagram views from the sheer low cost. Not only do they offer exceptional prices, but they also promise a fast delivery. In fact, packages are often delivered to clients within one minute of the purchase. With lightning speed times, Trollishly is a heavy contender for purchasing likes, views, and followers.

However, if you wish to receive the views more gradually, Trollishly can do that, too. Through their delivery time flexibility, their site fits into any marketing plan that you have.

Trollishly only works with genuine views from real human accounts. Plus, if you are, for whatever reason, not satisfied with your purchase, you can also request a full refund. However, you do need to request a refund within two days of your purchase, so if you want a refund because your order was late or not satisfactory, you should act fast.

Social Packages
One of the most prevalent of all content websites, Social Packages, offers customers a plethora of social media boosting options, ranging from purchasing Twitter followers all the way down to Spotify views. One of the most popular services they offer is the ability to purchase Instagram views.

First off, they take your privacy seriously. Not only do Social Packages not require passwords, but all of their payments are SSL secured and Encrypted, which guarantees that your financial information is never compromised. They also never share your information with third parties.

Some users feel worried that by using a company like this, they will get banned from Instagram. And rightfully so – some companies auto-follow other accounts in an attempt to gain more followers. But because Social Packages never requires your account password, you will never get banned from Instagram.

In fact, in all of their years of doing business, they have never had a user banned for using our services. They credit this because they never use customers’ passwords to follow other accounts and provide real promotions from real account holders.

Additionally, they also have moderate prices. Starting as low as $1.50 for the first package of views, and deliveries typically only take between one to two days.

While some people have said that Social Packages is a scamming site, other reviews have had good luck with using this company.

InstaMama
One of the most popular social media boosting sites, InstaMama has carved quite the name for itself in recent years. The company has even been featured in high-caliber publications like Forbes, Influencive, Moz, and more. In fact, nearly 100,000 agencies, customers, and influencers have purchased packages from this website.

InstaMama also earns high ratings on trusted review sites like Trustpilot. Reviewers praise InstaMama for high-quality views and followers and say that their customer service team quickly responds via chat if there is ever a problem.

While the delivery is gradual (possibly a little too gradual for some), the views are targeted towards a particular region. And what you don’t get in fast delivery, InstaMama makes up for in safety.

Customers are not required to provide their account passwords or other private account information. If a scammer hacks into their database, they never save customer payment information (such as credit card information) to protect you and your data.

Their price plans are modest (albeit a little more expensive than competing services). For Instagram followers, their first package starts as low as $14.50 for 500 high-quality views or followers. However, for Instagram views, their pricing is much more affordable, with their first package starting at just $2.50.

Another benefit of choosing InstaMama is they allow you to partake in a free trial. Possibly in an attempt to prove to future customers that they’re not a scam, users have the option to get 50 free IG likes for the low cost of free. The only information you need to provide is your account username and an email.

Of course, some people complain this is a scam, but InstaMama certainly delivers far above its competitors. For the most part, it seems as though most people are pleased with their service. Another good sign? Those people commenting on TrustPilot that it’s a scam have responses from the InstaMama team who attempt to clear up the problem and offer their money back.

Regardless, it seems that InstaMama is one of the good social media booster companies and is an excellent service that any Instagrammer should seriously consider. If you are considering purchasing views, put InstaMama on your list!

GetFans
GetFans has everything you want: real views from real people, a company that isn’t a scam, a communicative support team, and moderate pricing.
You can always reach us via multiple support channels such as our ticket system, email, live chat, or Skype.

Perhaps they’re such an effective company because their core team reflects the skills needed to take on this industry. In total, their team has eleven experts with years of experience and are strictly focused on providing top-notch performances.

This also means that their team has an exceptional understanding of Instagram’s rules and policy, which means your account is never in jeopardy. The team uses marketing systems and methods that are legal and in compliance with all of Instagram’s policies.

They certainly have one of the more expensive packages on the current market, which perhaps they can get away with because their services are so effective. Their packages start with six dollars per 500 views. While that may not seem like that much, you will need a consistent amount of views after a while to do anything – those six dollars can quickly add up.

And people really love them. On Trustpilot, out of nearly 200 views, 80% of them are 5-star reviews. Additionally, they strive to send views to customers on the same day of purchase. Plus, if you aren’t happy with your purchase, their website outlines a thorough money-back guarantee.

On the negative side, sometimes their packages do take a bit of time to get delivered – their website declares that it can take up to four days to see your results. Compared to other sites, this is a bit of a long wait time. However, when you purchase with them, you know exactly what you are getting, and you know it’s not a scam. As a result, many people find that it’s worth the wait.

FAQ
With so many companies that allow you to buy Instagram views, it can be challenging to figure out the best sites to buy Instagram views. As a result, you probably have a lot of questions. Here are some straightforward answers to help you navigate through the surplus of options.
Why Is It Important to Buy Views?
Gaining Instagram views isn’t just about vanity; it’s about growing your following so that you can grow your small business or pursue a career in being an influencer. Instagram runs on an algorithm, so newer accounts sometimes need a bit of a leg-up to get pushed up in the algorithm.
How to Buy Instagram Views
You can purchase Instagram views by using some sites listed above. Simply choose the package that best suits you and your needs (typical packages range from 500 views to 4,000), apply your credit card/PayPal/or other payment methods, and then wait for the views to hit your account.
Will Buying Views Shut Down My Account?
If you buy views from poor-quality sites, it is possible that Instagram will shut down your account. Instagram gets flagged when an account has suspicious behavior (an uptick in fake accounts following them, a rapid increase in the number of profiles you follow). When you use poor websites, they typically employ bots and fake sites to like and view your content.

However, Instagram typically issues users a warning before they suspend your account. If Instagram catches wind that you bought followers, you will probably lose the followers you paid for. Additionally, they do have the right to shut down your account permanently.
Are Companies That Sell Views a Scam?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams circulating the web, waiting to prey on Instagrammers and small business owners looking to expand their following. However, not all services that sell views are scams. It’s important to read plenty of verified reviews from other users to ensure that you are giving your money to a legitimate company that will provide you with safe, effective results.
How Do I Make Sure These Companies Are Safe to Use?
Go into their privacy policy and make sure that the company you plan to buy from uses SSL encryption. SSL encryption (AKA Secure Sockets Layer) is a formidable security protocol that is effective in protecting users’ personal information, such as credit card numbers, from third-party websites. You also should only choose websites where they never ask for information like passwords.

Final Thoughts
Instagram is tricky to navigate. With such oversaturation, it can be difficult to get noticed. A great way to combat that is to purchase views. When you want to buy Instagram views, the best way to get an edge is to use a service.

That’s why we’ve listed the best sites to buy Instagram views.

The Daily Californian’s editorial and newsroom staff were not involved in this advertisement’s production. For advertising and sponsorship opportunities or more information about paid content, contact advertising@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

The University of Utah football team grabbed a huge win over USC on the road on Saturday evening. The victory moves Utah to 3-2 on the year, 2-0 in Pac-12 play. This is the first time that Utah has beaten USC in Los Angeles since 1916, over 100 years ago.

Utah played their most complete game of football so far this season on both sides of the field, and thoroughly dominated the Trojans for most of the game.

Offense

Quarterback Cameron Rising was dominant for Utah, finishing with 333 total yards and 3 total touchdowns with no interceptions. The signature play of the game came at the end of the first half, when Rising threw a deep pass to Devaughn Vele off a flea flicker for the touchdown on 4th and short. The score put Utah up 21-10 going into halftime, and they quickly tacked on two more touchdowns at the start of the 3rd quarter. 

The offense hummed all night long thanks to a superb game from Rising and great play calling by head coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.

Utah got everyone involved on offense. Tavion Thomas ripped off a 43 yard run for a touchdown, which was nice to see after his fumbling issues earlier in the season. Whittingham wants to use Thomas more, and him holding on to the ball will go a long way towards that. Thomas finished with 111 yards on 15 carries.

Utah’s six touchdowns were all scored by different offensive players. Rising, Thomas, Vele, Brant Kuithe, Dalton Kincaid, and Money Parks all got on the board for Utah.

The Utah offense had no turnovers tonight. It was a problem for them through the first few games of the year, but it’s good to see the players correct mistakes and come out clean. 

Defense

The defense held tough all night long, limiting USC to just 26 points, with two Trojan touchdowns with extra points coming in garbage time. The Trojan offense was able to move the ball, but the Utes came up with big stops time after time. 

Devin Lloyd and Clark Phillips III were fantastic as usual. Vonte Davis had an interception. Mika Tafua got through for two sacks.

USC quarterback Kedon Slovis attempted 53 passes but only completed 33 of them. The Trojans finished with only 92 rushing yards on the night.

Special Teams

Not much to speak of on special teams for Utah. There were no kick returns for the Utes and just one punt return for a single yard by Britain Covey. 

Utah did allow 80 yards on kickoff returns by the Trojans, so that’s something to clean up.

The Utes did not attempt a field goal, but Jordan Noyes was 6/6 on his extra point tries. 

Up Next

Utah returns home next week to play Arizona State. The Sun Devils are 3-0 in Pac-12 play and the winner of that game will take sole possession of 1st place in the Pac-12 South. It’s a massive game, but the Utes are riding high after winning in a place where they hadn’t won in over 100 years.

e.pearce@dailyutahchronicle.com

@e_pearce_

@splashcitynba

The post Thoughts From the Gridiron: Utah vs. USC appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Teams that take risks usually end up one of two ways: embarrassed after a failed play or ecstatic the gamble paid off. For Utah, it was the latter on a 4th-and-one with under 30 seconds to go in the first half at USC’s 37 yard line. 

Instead of taking the field goal, Utes Head Coach Kyle Whittingham took a risk. He dialed up a flea-flicker play that resulted in a 37-yard touchdown throw just before halftime. Trojans fans stood shocked as their team trotted into the locker room behind 21-10. 

Like USC’s two losses earlier this season, things didn’t get any better in the second half. The game ended 42-26 in favor of Utah, the most the Utes have ever scored against the Trojans. This marked the third Pac-12 loss for the Trojans this season and the first time in 105 years USC lost to Utah at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

“The guys fought today, but that’s not good enough at all,” interim Head Coach Donte Williams said. “Especially for USC … They capitalized on us.”

Junior wide receiver Drake London was once again dominant for USC even with the loss. His career-high 16 receptions were tied for the second most in a single game by a Trojan receiver ever — the record of 17 is still held by Rams receiver Robert Woods. London went for 162 yards with 1 touchdown, a 20-yard reception where he hurdled a defender to find the endzone. 

“He’s the best receiver in the country,” junior quarterback Kedon Slovis said. “We try to dial stuff up for him. That means moving him around, and if they overplay [him], that gets the other guys more open.”

It took both teams a while to get going; the Trojans got on the scoreboard first with just 3:48 to go in the first quarter. USC stuck around with Utah for the majority of the first half, but the infamous third-quarter slump was just as ugly as past renditions, with Utah outscoring USC 14-0 in that period. 

The Trojans once again found themselves playing from behind later in the game, and while the offense produced more yardage than Utah — 493 to Utah’s 486 — the scoring output was nowhere near the Utes. 

“You just can’t stay behind the sticks,” Slovis said. “I think every time we got stopped, we had a penalty or a sack or something like that to get us behind the sticks.” 

USC’s secondary had another tough showing with a mix of blown coverages and penalties fueling Utah’s drives. 

“It [was] like [sophomore quarterback Cameron Rising] couldn’t miss,” redshirt senior safety Isaiah Pola-Mao said. “He just made great plays. We just have to win our one-on-one battles.” 

The Utes could do no wrong on offense for the most part. Rising was solid, going 22 of 28 for 306 yards with 3 touchdowns. Utah had seven different offensive players aside from Rising with over 20 yards.  

“Credit to Utah because they capitalized,” Williams said. “We gotta make sure these things don’t happen. There [were] way too many big plays on that field tonight not in our favor.”

Utah was coming off of the tragic loss of sophomore cornerback Aaron Lowe Sept. 26, who was killed in an accidental shooting. The game was the team’s first win since the incident.

The post Coliseum curse continues: Utah rolls over USC 42-26 appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Tech took the field against Pittsburgh last Saturday in an electric Bobby Dodd stadium, facing a hot team that came into the weekend averaging 52.5 points per game. Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett started the game with a series of quick passes before being stopped by the Tech defense, helped by pressure from linebacker Charlie Thomas.

The Panthers defense would give Pickett another chance, with a tipped pass from Tech quarterback Jeff Sims turning into an interception. Pittsburgh capitalized on the mistake with a nine-yard touchdown run by running back Israel Abanikanda.

Sims started off his second drive with another interception, this time by John Petrishen, who returned it for a 26-yard Pittsburgh touchdown.

Tech found itself starting the third drive down 14-0. The lead was not set to last as Jeff Sims, looking unfazed, threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate McCollum, bringing Tech to a 14-7 deficit.

The Panthers offense struggled to gain yardage the next drive, with Pickett feeling pressure from the Tech defensive line, particularly from Tre Swilling, whose sack helped put a first down out of reach. One drive later, after a punt by Tech, the Panthers offense returned with a 47-yard pass from Pickett to Jordan Addison, before returning to Addison for an 11-yard touchdown pass, which sealed the first quarter with a 21-7 Tech deficit.

After a few back-and-forth drives, the Panthers offense started off at midfield after a miscue from the Tech punting team resulted in an accidental collision with the punt returner. Once again, the offense took advantage of Tech’s mistake, with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Pickett to Taysir Mack building the Panthers lead to 21.

Tech responded the next drive, first with a 34-yard return by Jahmyr Gibbs, followed by a 13-yard pass from Sims to Malachi Carter, and finally a 24-yard run by Sims. Tech found itself in the endzone a few plays later with a 3-yard run by Dontae Smith.

Pittsburgh responded with a drive of their own, culminating with a 6-yard touchdown run by Israel Abanikanda, his second of the day.

After a turnover on downs by Tech, the Panthers responded with a two play, 45-yard touchdown drive, the first being a 29-yard pass, followed by a 16 yard pass, both to receiver Lucas Krull.

Down 14-42, Tech started its next drive with a 71-yard pass from Sims to Jahmyr Gibbs, bringing the offense to the Panthers 4 yard-line. Tech found themselves at third and goal on the one-yard line, where they would fail to score a touchdown after two incomplete passes.

After electing to defer to the second, Tech’s offense came out in a hurry, with multiple passes from Sims to Malachi Carter and Malik Rutherford bringing Tech to the Pittsburgh 7 yard-line. Tech was once again unable to convert, with a holding penalty pushing back what would have been a touchdown, followed a few plays later by a missed field goal.

Pittsburgh, by this point in complete control of the game, found the end zone yet again, this time on a 2-yard pass to Daniel Carter, putting the Panthers up 49-14. Tech responded with a drive of their own, putting together an 11 play, 75-yard drive which ended with a 4-yard pass from Sims to Andonicas Sanders for a touchdown.

The Panthers first drive of the fourth quarter ended with 12 plays and a 46-yard field goal, putting them up a comfortable 52-21 over the Jackets.

Tech ended the game having never figured out how to slow the Pittsburgh offense, while having given up two touchdowns after interceptions. Tech will enter its next few games without the momentum it had hoped to carry as they continues one of the toughest schedules in the ACC. The Jackets travel to Durham for a game against Duke on Oct. 9, hoping for a win to get back on track.

It was an unusual start in the first two sets between No. 8 Minnesota and Michigan. In the opening set, Minnesota got off to a slow start, missing three consecutive points to give the Wolverines a 7-4 lead. The Wolverines took advantage of that momentum and blew past the Gophers to win the first set 25-13.

Minnesota completely flipped the script in the next set, storming ahead to an early 7-1 lead. The Gophers and Michigan swapped game styles completely, and this time it was the Maroon & Gold who came out on top.

The Wolverines didn’t have much of an answer for Minnesota’s offense, allowing a six-point run for Minnesota in the middle of the set. After pulling ahead 17-7 on that run thanks to kills from Stephanie Samedy, Jenna Wenaas and Ellie Husemann, the Gophers were able to tie it up with a 25-13 win of their own heading into the third set.

The third set was much more of a battle from both sides. It seemed as though both sides had completely woken up as they battled back and forth, with neither team gaining more than two consecutive points until Michigan put together a 3-point run to lead 10-15.

Minnesota responded with a four-point run to tie the game 17-17 before pulling ahead for the win. A kill from Wenaas secured the second straight set 26-24 to give the Gophers a 2-1 lead on the night.

With the opportunity to end the night, Minnesota relived the opening set. It was all Michigan from the get-go as the Wolverines were able to knot it up at two sets apiece. It was almost identical to their first set win, but the Gophers managed to score 14 points in the fourth set.

Heading into the fifth set for the second straight game, Minnesota needed to re-energize itself. A 1-0 lead was the most the Gophers could get before Michigan was able to answer right back. Minnesota didn’t grab a lead again until a 3-point run put them in front 11-10.

That was all the fight they had and Michigan took the fifth set, and the night, away from Minnesota. The Gophers drop to 8-5 and face Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. Saturday night to end a four-game road trip.

Junior outside hitter Abbie Jackson’s 20 kills helped power UH volleyball past UCF on Friday night. | Courtesy of UH athletics

UH volleyball took down UCF in five sets on Friday night in Orlando, Florida, for the Cougars’ first win over the Golden Knights since 2017.

Houston jumped ahead 6-3 to begin the first set but UCF quickly rallied back to tie the set at seven.

The Knights continued their run to lead of 15-10 highlighted by a series of successful kills and mistakes by the Cougars. UCF rode its momentum to a 25-18 first set victory. 

In set two, both teams kept each other on their toes as the score remained close throughout the entire set.

UCF led 18-15 before UH went on a run of its own. A service ace by sophomore setter Annie Cooke tied it 23 followed an attack error by UCF  to put Houston 24-23 inching the Cougars closer to a set two win. A kill by junior outside hitter Abbie Jackson helped UH take a 25-23 set two victory. 

Set three started began with UH taking a 7-5 lead.

The Cougars’ expanded their lead to 22-14.

UCF rallied back, scoring six consecutive points to close the gap but the Cougars held off the Knights comeback efforts. A kill by senior outside hitter Kortlyn Henderson and two back-to-back kills by Jackson made secured a 25-20 third set victory for UH. 

Looking to force a fifth set, UCF held a narrow 17-15 midway through the fourth set. UH made it close, trading points with the UCF but the Knights were ultimately able to win the set 25-22. 

The Cougars found themselves in a hole in the fifth set as the Knights scored four consecutive points to jump ahead 11-9.

But UH remained unfazed, taking six of the next seven points capped off by a kill from Jackson to win the set 15-12 and take the match 3-2.

With the win, UH improved to 14-3 on the season and 4-1 in American Athletic Conference play.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“UH volleyball knocks off UCF in five sets” was originally posted on The Cougar