USC-UCLA: Trojans Win 7th Straight Pac-10 Title with Defense

It was two years ago in one of the longest-standing college rivalries that UCLA upset the Trojans 13-9 to prevent USC from reaching the BCS title game.

This year the 4-7 Bruins would need an even greater effort to beat USC and prevent the Trojans from winning the Pac-10 title outright and making their fourth consecutive Rose Bowl appearance.

Early on, it looked like USC’s crosstown rival just might be up to the task.

On USC’s first play from scrimmage, C.J. Gable fumbled, and UCLA took over at the Trojans 20. After two unsuccessful running plays, Kevin Craft lateraled to Dominique Johnson who threw a 20-yard floater across the field. Kahlil Bell out-jumped Clay Matthews and Taylor Mays for the score and the upset-minded Bruins were up 7-0.

On USC’s second possession, Patrick Turner caught a first down pass and a roughing the passer penalty put USC in UCLA territory. But season-long, hit-and-miss Trojans offense stalled at the 25.

David Buehler, who would have a very, very long day that he would like to forget, tried a 42-yard field goal but missed, and the score remaind UCLA 7-USC 0

After a Bruin three-and-out, Mark Sanchez hit Damian Williams at the UCLA 40. Three running plays netted only 6 yards. But on fourth down, Sanchez completed a first-down pass to tight end Anthony McCoy.

On the very next play, Michael Norris interferred with Damian Williams in the end zone. After the penalty, Joe McKnight took a quick flip and flew around right end for a 12-yard TD to tie the score.

After another Bruin three-and-out, Sanchez hit Damian Williams at the UCLA 35 then drilled Patrick Turner across the middle to the 12. Damian Williams took a flare pass and juked Michael Morris out of his pants and darted into the end zone.

So, the Bruins, who were determined to stop the run and force the Trojans to be one-dimensional, were getting burned by that one-dimension, 14-7.

A Rey Maualuga head-butt on Kevin Craft gave the Bruins a first down and got Rey-Rey a seat on the bench for the rest of the series. An offsides penalty got the Bruins another first down.

After a holding penalty, the Bruins were unable to get anything on their own and called on their punter Anthony Perez to bury the Trojans deep in their own territory.

But Gerald Washington had other ideas and blocked Perez’ punt, and USC took over at mid-field.

It looked like the Trojans might strike quickly as McKnight took a toss around left end for a first down at the UCLA 35. But on the next play, Michael Norris refused to go for a Sanchez fake and made a spectacular one-handed interception of a pass intended for Patrick Turner at the UCLA 11.

Called on to punt again, this time Perez hit a 64-yarder that Stafon Johnson chased down at the USC 20 and ran back to the 29.

McKnight caught a first down pass at the 48 then ran for another first down at the UCLA 41. After a holding penalty and a couple of incompletes, USC had to punt on a fourth-and-long. But a running into the kicker penalty gave USC a first down at the Bruins 40.

An outstanding play by Alteron Verner who stripped a pass away from Damian Williams in the end zone prevented a Trojan touchdown.

On third down, a draw to Joe McKnight gave the Trojans a first down at the UCLA 18. Then Sanchez hit Turner on the sideline at the 4.

Sanchez stayed in the game despite being sandwiched on a roughing the passer penalty and handed off to Stafon Johsnon to cap the 14-play, 70-yard drive that was kept alive by that fourth-down roughing the punter penalty.

After UCLA failed to do anything with the ball, USC took over on the 35, and Sanchez hit McCoy at the UCLA 45. Michael Norris again made a great defensive play on Patrick Turner. But Sanchez came back on the next play and hit Ronald Johnson at the UCLA 23.

On third down, Sanchez overthrew Turner, and Buehler came in and missed his second field goal. This time from 40 yards.

With Buehler’s two misses, USC left six-points on the field and went in at halftime with a 21-7 lead. USC outgained UCLA 270 yards to 66 and 17 first downs to 3. But UCLA was winning the turnover battle 2-0.

Sanchez started off the second half with a first-down pass to Ronald Johnson at the UCLA 45. On third down, Sanchez couldn’t find a receiver and ran to the sticks where he got a UCLA helmet in the back and an additional 15 yards.

On the next play, Sanchez hit Turner on a post route, and USC was quickly up 28-7.

The Bruins andTrojans exchanged punts. On a third and one, Kaluka Maiava stuffed Kahlil Bell and the Bruins were forced to punt again.

The Trojans mounted a sustained drive that fizzled out at the 23, and Buehler fanned on his third-straight field goal try from just outside the 40, leaving 9 points on the field.

The Trojan defense had proven very tough the whole game, and the UCLA offense just could not sustain a drive. It didn’t help that Kevin Craft’s accuracy was anything but stellar.

USC pounded the balll on the ground, eating up valuable time.

After the Number One defense stopped the Bruins once more, USC ran out the clock and closed out their regular season with a 28-7 win.

They outgained the Bruin 468-157 and led in every category except turnovers, which wound up 2-1 in the Bruins favor.

It was USC’s seventh straight Pac-10 title and Pete Carroll’s seventh straight 11-win season. Guaranteed a trip to the Rose Bowl, it will be the Trojans seventh straight BCS Bowl appearance. Should they beat Penn State, it will also be their seventh straight Top 4 or better finish.

Now if that isn’t a record I don’t know what is.