USC's Davis frustrated by 3rd defeat: 'We lost this game, Utah didn't win'

If frustration was mounting after USC's second loss of the year, it only grew Friday when the Trojans blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to Utah to collect their third defeat.

"We lost this game," Trojans running back Justin Davis said afterward. "Utah didn't win."

USC appeared to have its second win of the season within arm's reach, but a last-minute Utes touchdown ultimately turned the tables and gave the Trojans their third loss in four games to start the year.

Davis did his best to drag USC to victory, racking up 126 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. Inexplicably, though, the team's top rusher didn't receive a handoff in the fourth quarter.

"It pains me that the whole Trojan Family has to go through this," said Davis, "because USC isn't supposed to be 1-3."

Indeed, the loss dropped USC to 1-3 on the season, and 1-5 since Clay Helton was named the program's permanent head coach.

Criticism toward Helton is piling up as well, with his running back's absence in the fourth quarter and other questionable decisions - including his call to punt from inside the Utes' 40-yard line late in the fourth - drawing the ire of fans.

When asked about Davis' invisibility in the final frame Friday, Helton told reporters it was simply a result of the team's rotation at running back.

As for his controversial decision to punt inside the 40-yard line in the fourth quarter, Helton didn't second-guess himself and said, "I'd do it again."