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TUCSON, Ariz. -- A season of expectations fell flat quickly for Southern California, from an opening blowout loss to Alabama to a 0-2 start in the Pac-12.Look at the Trojans now.Finally starting to live up to some of the promise that followed them into the season, the Trojans moved back into the thick of the Pac-12 South race with a pair of impressive wins. Beat Arizona on Saturday night and they could end up being the favorites again.Right now were in a playoff mentality and every week is like a championship game and youve got to treat it that way in the Pac-12, USC coach Clay Helton said.The Trojans were the Pac-12 South champions last season and were a favorite to win it again this season with so many playmakers back.USC stumbled out of the gate and appeared to be heading toward a freefall after consecutive losses to Stanford and Utah.The Trojans (3-3, 2-2 Pac-12) put themselves back in the conversation the past two weeks, beating Arizona State and Colorado, two of the teams ahead of them in the standings.Next up is a banged-up Arizona team. The Wildcats (2-4, 0-3) may be down to their third-string quarterback -- a freshman -- and have lost three straight to open conference play after last weeks 13-point defeat at Utah.Heres a few things to look for when Arizona hosts USC on Saturday afternoon:TATES ROLE: Arizona lost starting quarterback Anu Solomon to a knee injury in practice after the opener and Brandon Dawkins is battling a concussion and a rib injury. That has forced the Wildcats to turn to freshman Khalil Tate, who had planned on redshirting this season. He threw for two touchdowns after Dawkins was hurt against UCLA two weeks ago and overcame a few mistakes to throw a 63-yard touchdown against Utah last week. His demeanor was outstanding. His composure, for a 17-year-old freshman coming in there, was unreal, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. Hes still learning. There are a few things wed like to have back, and hed like to have back. But every game is a learning experience and I think hell grow from that.DARNOLDS TURN: With the Trojans struggling on offense, Helton made the decision to switch quarterbacks after three games. Its worked out well. Redshirt freshman Sam Darnold has been stellar at times, throwing for 963 yards and six touchdowns in three starts with a passer rating of 165.3, eighth-best in the FBS. Darnold also has shown an ability to extend plays with his mobility, something the Wildcats will have to account for on Saturday.WILSON RETURN?: Arizona is hoping running back Nick Wilson will be able to return this week. The junior ran for 254 combined yards the first two games, but has just eight carries since due to an ankle injury. He didnt play last week, but was upgraded to probable this week. Arizona is 13th nationally in rushing offense, but has done it mostly with its mobile quarterbacks. Getting Wilson back could add another dimension.STOPPING ADOREE: Arizona may want to kick away from Adoree Jackson. The USC cornerback has been a terror on special teams, averaging 31.7 yards on kickoffs and 18.7 yards on punts. Last week he had a 47-yard punt return and a 38-yard kick return to help set up the Trojans with good field position. Jackson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, forcing the Wildcats into a decision whether to kick to him or not. Ondrej Kase Ducks Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Nick Ritchie Jersey . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Scott-niedermayer-ducks-jersey/ . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Teemu Selanne Jersey . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Carter Rowney Ducks Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Adrian Beltre just keeps chugging along for the Texas Rangers. Hes making it look oh so easy, too. Beltre doubled and scored in the second inning, and then hit a two-run homer in the sixth to power AL West-leading Texas to a 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night. "This is what Im supposed to be doing, right?" Beltre said. "Ive been feeling better lately. Definitely." Beltres 26th homer came against rookie right-hander Jarred Cosart (1-1) and lifted Texas into a 3-2 lead. It was his 160th hit, one behind Miguel Cabrera for the major league lead. "The only way I can really describe it, hes the MVP. Hes having an MVP-calibre season," Ian Kinsler said. "Hes one of the best players in the league on one of the best teams, and he does it night in and night out." Beltre is hitting .434 (33 of 76) over his last 21 games, raising his season average 19 points to .326, third in the American League. After a leadoff double in the second, Beltre went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an infield single by Alex Rios. "Hes been swinging the bat extremely well and been getting it done in situations when we really need him to get it done," manager Ron Washington said. "Thats what Beltre is about, and it seems like every time we go down the stretch, hes right there ready to do it" Matt Dominguez homered for Houston, which has lost seven in row and 13 of 14 against the Rangers. Neal Cotts (5-2) struck out the first three batters he faced over 1 1-3 innings and was credited with the win. The lefty was the second reliever after Travis Blackley pitched four innings against his former team a week after being traded to Texas. Joe Nathan struck out the side in the ninth for his 37th save in 39 chances. Cosart allowed three runs over six innings, raising his ERA from 1.15 to 1.60. It was the first time in his seven major league starts that he yielded more than two runs. "I thought command-wise, it was my best game," Cosart said. "I had command of two pitches, fastball and curve, and didnt have to use my changeup. They couldnt sit on one pitch." Texas was down 2-1 when Kinsler drew a one-out walk in the sixth. Beltre then hit a drive to right for the first homer surrendered by Cosart in his 45 major league innings -- and one that had the 23-year-old biting his glove in disgust.dddddddddddd "That pitch was at his head. It wasnt even a strike," Cosart said. "I didnt think he would swing at it." Blackley was brought up from Triple-A Round Rock to start in place of right-hander Alexi Ogando, who was put on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. The 30-year-old Australian, who made 42 relief appearances for Houston, allowed three hits and two runs. The Rangers expected for him to throw around 65 pitches, and he threw 66, 42 for strikes. "He did a good job," Washington said. "Other than (one pitch to Dominguez), he did what he needed to do, keep us in the game." Chris Carter walked and scored on Dominguezs 17th homer in the second. There were 11 pitches in the first, including a hard shot by L.J. Hoes that ricocheted off Blackleys foot toward the third base line. Jurickson Profar made a barehanded grab and threw in one motion to retire Hoes. Astros manager Bo Porter quickly came out to unsuccessfully argue with umpire Lance Barksdale that Profars throw pulled first baseman Mitch Moreland off the bag. Under the expansion of video review planned for next season, it was the kind of challenge Porter may have won. Max Stassi, called up from Double-A Corpus Christi earlier Tuesday, made his major league debut as the designated hitter and got a single in the fifth. He also will remember what happened after the first of his two hits. A comebacker by Marwin Gonzalez was snagged by reliever Jason Frasor, who turned and made a high throw that went off shortstop Andrus glove and caught by second baseman Kinsler backing up the play. But Stassi, apparently thinking he was already out, wandered off second base and was tagged by Kinsler. "He told me, Bo, this never happened to me in no league, and its not going to happen again," Porter said. "I told him if you are a forceout, you dont leave the base until the umpire says youre out." NOTES: Stassi, a catcher, was called up after C Carlos Corporan was put on the seven-day concussion DL after being hit in the mask by a foul tip Monday night. Corporan was returning to Houston to see a specialist. ' ' '