Helton shrugs off Darnold INTs: 'He's found ways to win the football game'

Sam Darnold may be tossing interceptions at a much higher rate than he did last season, but it clearly isn't worrying his head coach.

USC bench boss Clay Helton was asked about his thoughts on Darnold's increasing tendency to turn the ball over through the air, and Helton simply referred to his team's win-loss record to justify his quarterback's performance.

"At the end of the day, he's found ways to win the football game," Helton told Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register.

Saturday's contest against California was the first time this season that Darnold limited his interception total to just one, tossing a pair in each of his previous three games. The redshirt sophomore threw just nine interceptions compared to 31 touchdown passes all of last season.

In the end, winning supersedes just about all. If Darnold can keep the Trojans out of the loss column, he shouldn't have to worry about catching too much flack from his head coach.