Robert Woods Oct. 9 vs Stanford (Shotgun Spratling/Neon Tommy)

For the second week in a row the Trojans felt the elation of a late-game lead turn to bitter disappointment as a last-second field goal from the opposing team split the uprights and sent them to the locker room with a loss.

Last week it was the Washington Huskies who celebrated at the Trojans’ expense. This week it was the Stanford Cardinal. Kicker Nate Whitaker hit a 30-yard field goal as time expired to hand the Trojans a 37-35 loss in Stanford Stadium.

After the game, coach Lane Kiffin said he was disappointed by the loss and that he thought the team played better than in last week’s loss to Washington.

“We are so close to being good but are not there yet,” Kiffin said.

With the loss, USC drops to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Pac-10.

Here’s how the game developed:

The Trojan defense started strong, forcing Stanford into a three-and-out on the game’s opening series. It was not an omen of things to come, however, as it was the only drive of the game where USC forced a punt.

The offense started out hot as well.

Bouncing back from criticisms levied at him this week, Matt Barkley orchestrated a seamless drive on the first series of the game. Mixing a 25-yard lob to Brice Butler with short out routes to Robert Woods, the sophomore quarterback led the Trojans efficiently down the field. Freshman Dillon Baxter finished off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run, the first of his career, to make it 7-0 Trojans.

After stumbling on their opening possession, the Cardinal responded with a scorching drive of their own. Quarterback Andrew Luck had his way with the Trojans defense, spreading it thinner than a slice of New York pizza and looking every bit the part of a Heisman hopeful. Wide receiver Doug Baldwin capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown catch that evened the score.

The Stanford offense continued to roll on its next series.

A pinpoint 24-yard pass from Luck to Baldwin gave the Cardinal a first down at the USC 15-yard line. However, on the ensuing play, defensive tackle Armond Armstead broke through the Stanford offensive line and crushed Luck. The hit resulted in a fumble and Jurrell Casey jumped on the loose ball, ending what would have surely been a scoring drive.

USC quickly returned the favor, though, turning the ball over on a Stanley Havili fumble at the Stanford 15 yard line.

Unlike the Trojans, Stanford capitalized on the turnover. USC’s hapless defense was once again bulldozed by Luck and Stanford’s spread-it-around offense. A series of well-blocked underneath routes set up a six-yard touchdown run by Anthony Wilkerson to put the Cardinal ahead 14-7.

USC’s next offensive series quickly turned into the Robert Woods Show.

First the freshman caught a 16-yard pass on third-and-nine. Then, two plays later, he took a short pass along the left sideline, spun quickly past his man and ran 31 yards to the Stanford 16. To cap it all off, Woods caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Barkley that tied the game at 14.

Woods would finish the game with 12 catches for 224 yards receiving and three touchdowns, tying a USC record for touchdown receptions in a game.

After the game, he showed his usual mix of humility and excitement.

“Matt [Barkley] and I were really connecting,” Woods said. “To score three touchdowns for the Trojans tonight was a really great feeling.”

The Trojans opened the second half with a three-and-out, followed by another poorly executed defensive stand. Led by Luck and running back Stepfan Taylor, Stanford carved the Trojans like an Italian butcher. Taylor completed the 93-yard drive by leaping over the USC defensive line on third-and-one to retake the lead 21-14.

What followed was an offensive barrage that left the 51,607-person crowd breathless.

Down by seven, USC quickly struck back with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Barkley to Woods, who put a brilliant move on his defender at midfield before racing untouched to the end zone.

Stanford responded with a six-play, 82-yard drive that finished with a two-yard touchdown catch by tight end Konrad Reuland. The series included a 29-yard catch by Chris Owusu, who had been previously listed as day-to-day after suffering a concussion against Oregon.

With the Cardinal up 28-21, USC launched a 67-yard counter attack, highlighted by a 27-yard scramble by Barkley. Woods caught his third touchdown pass of the game on fourth-and-two from the six-yard line to even the score at 28.

Not to be outdone, Owusu took the ensuing kickoff 88 yards to set up another Lock-to-Baldwin touchdown connection, this one a seven-yarder.

Whitaker missed the extra point, though, opening the door for a heartbreaking ending for USC.

After being forced to punt and recovering a Stanford fumble on the following drive, USC staged a wild assault on the Cardinal defense that included a play action pass attempt from running back Marc Tyler to Stanley Havili, a fourth-and-two swing pass conversion to Havili and a big third down catch by, who else?, Robert Woods.

When the dust settled, running back Allen Bradford was in the end zone and Joe Houston was kicking the extra point to put USC ahead 35-34.

USC orchestrated a great drive but for the second week in a row left too much time on the clock for its opponent.

With 1:02 remaining, Stanford mounted a furious comeback of its own, using a personal foul penalty on Chris Galippo to fuel a seven-play, 62-yard drive. That play, followed by a 13-yard catch from Baldwin and a 16-yard run by Taylor put the Cardinal in field goal range and the rest was history.

Whitaker hit the 30-yarder and USC retreated once again to its locker room in defeat.

“It is really disappointing to lose two games like this,” Barkley said after the game. “We are at the lowest of lows.”

Post-game feelings aside, Barkley had a much better game this week than he did against Washington. He passed for 390 yards and three touchdowns while avoiding turnovers and being sacked just once.

He played about as well as a quarterback can be expected to.

His counterpart Luck did very well also, racking up 285 yards passing and three touchdowns.

The quarterbacks played well, but the player of the game was definitely Woods. He simply couldn’t be contained. He caught everything that came his way and made the kinds of moves after the catch that offensive coaches salivate over in post-game film sessions.

In spite of the loss, Woods gives SC fans reason to be excited about the future of the team.

To reach editor Patrick Crawley, click here.

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