USC’s first play on offense against Utah at sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday night will present Cody Kessler with a unique challenge.
The Trojans quarterback will look across the line of scrimmage, read the Utes defense and no doubt make eye contact with linebacker Jared Norris, his former high school teammate and best friend from Bakersfield.
“That first play,” Kessler said, “there will probably be a chuckle between us.”
Said Norris: “I’m not going to be able to stop laughing.”
In an instant, it will get decidedly more serious for both.
USC, ranked 20th, is trying to stay in the hunt to be the Pac-12 South Division entrant in the conference title game.
It won’t be easy against No.19 Utah, which also is positioned for a run at the championship game.
Utah, 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-12, is off to its best start since winning its first eight games in 2010.
The Utes feature the most productive pass rush in major college football, and they will be backed by one of the Pac-12’s loudest crowds.
“We understand the environment we’re heading into,” USC Coach Steve Sarkisian said.
It will be far removed from the comfort of the Coliseum, where Kessler passed for a school-record seven touchdowns in last week’s 56-28 victory over Colorado.
The Trojans improved to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play to remain atop the Pac-12 South.
Against Colorado, Kessler enjoyed plenty of time to launch passes downfield to receivers Nelson Agholor and JuJu Smith, resulting in the “explosive” plays that Sarkisian said he longed for and USC fans appreciate.
The Trojans’ offensive line will be challenged to afford Kessler similar luxury Saturday night. Norris is part of a defense that ranks first nationally in sacks, averaging 5 1/2 a game.
End Nate Orchard has 10 1/2 sacks, end Hunter Dimick 5 1/2, Norris four and linebacker Pita Taumoepenu 3 1/2.
Utah recorded 10 sacks in its 30-28 victory over UCLA on Oct. 4 at the Rose Bowl.
“They disguise their blitzes so well that it’s really hard to read,” Kessler said. “Normally when you see teams, you say, ‘OK, this is where they’re lined up, they might pressure this way.'”
Utah will “bring pressure out of nowhere that you don’t expect,” Kessler said.
Kessler spent much of the week studying film of the Utes.
Norris, his former Bakersfield Centennial High teammate, was in the middle of much of it.
The 6-foot-2, 237-pound senior has a team-leading 58 tackles, including 9 1/2 for losses.
Norris lines up at various spots, but Kessler is certain “he’ll definitely be right in front of me a couple times.”
Last season, Norris had seven tackles against USC, but the Trojans won, 19-3.
“I hit him twice and got one good hit on him, but didn’t get a sack,” Norris said. “Hopefully, this year I can tackle him.”
USC’s defense is scheming to tackle Utah running back Devontae Booker, who rushed for 229 yards and three touchdowns in the Utes’ 29-23 double-overtime victory at Oregon State last week.
Booker, a transfer from American River College in Sacramento, has averaged 187.7 yards in the last three games and appears to be flourishing under running backs coach Dennis Erickson.
USC linebacker Anthony Sarao, who made 12 tackles against Colorado, said the physical Booker demands a group defensive effort. The Trojans “can’t have one guy trying to make one tackle,” he said.
Last season, USC limited the Utes to a field goal at the Coliseum.
“We’re not looking forward to a finesse-type of a game,” USC defensive end Leonard Williams said. “We’re looking forward to a big physical-type game.”
A USC victory would buoy the Trojans heading into next week’s game at Washington State. A defeat could send them spiraling.
Regardless, Kessler will seek out Norris afterward.
“No matter what,” he said, “we’re still going to be cool after the game.”
Twitter: @latimesklein
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