UPDATE: The start of the second half was delayed due to severe weather. The third quarter kicked off at 6:25 p.m.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — One week after thrashing Hawaii by 39 points, the Southern California team that had been dubbed essentially invincible seemed to have lost its way.

One week after being gashed by Northwestern for 42 points, the Syracuse defense that appeared porous seemed to have risen to a new level.

The result was an offensive stalemate in the first half at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, with the 25-point underdogs from Central New York hanging in against the juggernauts from the West Coast. And though USC eventually took a 14-3 lead into halftime, the game remained much more hotly contested than many would have believed possible.

Matt Barkley, USC’s golden-armed quarterback, looked unimpressive at best. He finished the half 13-for-17 for 112 yards and two touchdowns, but the majority of his completions came on bubble screens and quick passes that relied on his receivers to run after the catch.

His lone attempt downfield, however, was an exquisite touch pass that All-American receiver Robert Woods wrestled away from SU cornerback Ri’Shard Anderson and produced the Trojans’ second touchdown of the half.

He connected with Marqise Lee on a short slant route earlier in the second quarter to put USC on the board after nearly 18 minutes of scoreless football.

For Syracuse, the chances were certainly there — the Orange just failed to capitalize. Ryan Nassib, who entered the weekend leading the nation in passing after an unflappable 470-yard performance against Northwestern, seemed flustered in the pocket.

He was flushed out of the pocket to his left on SU’s third play from scrimmage and forced an ugly throw downfield while being dragged down from beyond. It was nowhere near an Orange receiver, instead settling into the gut of USC linebacker Dion Bailey. And later he missed a wide-open Marcus Sales in the middle of the field, sailing a ball high above the arms of the 6-foot-tall receiver.

But his worst blunder of the game came on SU’s final drive of the half. After navigating downfield quickly with less than two minutes remaining, Nassib put too much air under a ball intended for Jeremiah Kobena, who had shed the coverage of USC’s Brian Baucham and was open in the left side of the end zone.

It allowed Baucham to recover and knock the ball away, forcing the Orange to settle for a field goal.

Published on September 8, 2012 at 5:20 pm

Contact Michael: mjcohe02@syr.edu | @Michael_Cohen13