Quarterback
A-Matt Scott was sharp, completing 27 of 50 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns and running 15 times for 100 yards before being forced from the game with a concussion. That the Wildcats' quarterback stayed in long enough to make the play of the game, a slant pass to David Richards that extended the Wildcats' lead to 11 points with 5 minutes 36 seconds remaining, is a testament to his toughness. Backup B.J. Denker played the final drive. And while he didn't attempt a single pass, Denker made a nice leaping catch of a high snap that appeared headed for disaster.
Running back
A-Ka'Deem Carey continues to be Mr. Consistent. The tailback ran 28 times for 119 yards, just below his average of 120, and scored a TD. The sophomore also caught two passes for 8 yards. His biggest carries came late, with Scott out, when he helped the UA gain a two first downs.
Wide receivers
B+On a day when USC's Marqise Lee posted one of the best single-game performances in Pac-12 history, Arizona's Austin Hill was pretty good, too. The slot receiver caught 10 passes for a season-high 259 yards. Dan Buckner (7 catches, 57 yards, TD) was solid, again, and David Richards and Johnny Jackson both had touchdown catches.
Offensive line
A-The front five played well against a bigger, stronger USC defense, especially with the game on the line. With Denker in for Scott - and with everybody certain that the Wildcats were running the ball - the UA's offensive line managed to clear the way for a pair of clock-killing first downs. The Wildcats ran for 219 yards behind the patchwork line; Scott wasn't sacked once in his 50 pass attempts.
Front six
B+Linebacker Marquis Flowers registered seven tackles, intercepted two passes and forced a fumble. Fellow linebacker Sir Thomas Jackson and defensive end Reggie Gilbert both sacked Matt Barkley, and an otherwise outmanned UA front was able to keep the star QB on his toes. USC rushed for just 125 yards on 26 carries.
Back five
C+The Wildcats struggled all day to stop Lee, who finished with a conference-record 345 receiving yards on 16 catches and scored two touchdowns. Barkley threw for 493 yards, and USC finished with 618 yards of total offense. Still, Arizona was able to make one stop when it mattered most: Jared Tevis covered Lee on a deep pass attempt on the second-to-last play of the game, and Barkley overthrew them; Shaquille Richardson then batted down a Hail Mary pass on the game's final play, and Arizona won 39-36.
Special teams
C+The Cats followed their best special teams performance of the season against Washington with one of the worst. John Bonano hit a pair of first-half field goals, but missed one on the final play before halftime - though, in fairness, he initially made it before a holding penalty forced a re-kick. And the UA allowed Lee, the game's best player, to break a 72-yard kickoff return late in the fourth quarter. But things weren't all bad: Kyle Dugandzic's 48-yard punt with 1 minute left cornered Lee, who had no choice but to step out of bounds, and USC started its final drive at its own 13.
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