By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles)- Jackson McChesney bulled into the endzone from seven yards out with 3:45 left in the fourth quarter to give BYU a 35-31 win over USC Saturday night before 55, 926 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
The Trojans had scored early in the fourth quarter to take a 31-28 lead but they weren’t able to sustain it. After the Cougars scored USC had one last shot and drove deep down into BYU territory but Jaxson Dart’s pass to Gary Bryant Jr. on fourth down came up a yard short with 38 seconds left. Bryant Jr. was tackled at the ten yard line and he needed to get to the nine for a first down.
BYU built a 15 point lead early in the third quarter but the Trojans came storming back.
USC drew first blood. A 61-yard kickoff return by Gary Bryant Jr. led to a 26-yard field goal by Parker Lewis on the opening possession.
BYU immediately responded with an 8-play, 70-yard drive capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jaren Hall to Puka Nacua for a 7-3 lead.
In the second quarter BYU marched 93 yards on 15 plays as Tyler Allgeier finished it with a 9-yard touchdown run. The Cougars took 3 points off the board after the Trojans were offside on a field goal. BYU then went for it on fourth and one and Allgeier scored.
On the next series USC put together a 9-play, 72-yard drive. Dart kept it and went six yards for the touchdown to cut the Cougars lead to 14-10 with 8:06 left in the second.
It didn’t take long for the Cougars to find the endzone again. Less than three minutes later Allgeier crashed across the goal line again from five yards out to cap a drive. BYU took a 21-10 lead with 5:45 left in the second.
An interception by Kana’i Mauga late in the second quarter led to a Lewis 33-yard field goal as the clock hit zeroes on the first half.
BYU took the eight point advantage into the break.
The Cougars opened the third quarter with a 6 play, 75-yard drive. Hall connected with Keanu Hill with a 41-yard touchdown pass for a 28-13 lead with 11:37 left in the third quarter.
Vavae Malepeai finished a 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run on the next series as the Trojans cut the BYU lead to 28-20 with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter.
After forcing a BYU punt USC moved the ball down to the Cougar 22 yard line before stalling. Lewis kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 28-23.
After being buried at their own nine yard line the Trojans drove 91 yards on 12 plays with Dart connecting with Bryant Jr. for a 10-yard score. Dart then hit Lake McRee for a two point conversion to give USC a 31-28 lead with 11:03 left in the fourth quarter.
On the next possession Calen Bullock intercepted Hall in the endzone and the Trojans had the ball back again. However they failed to capitalize and the Cougars took possession and moved to ball down the field with McChesney getting what proved to be the game winner.
Dart completed 22 of 35 for 248 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Malepeai led the USC rushing attack with 99 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
For BYU Hall went 20 of 32 for 276 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Allgeier rushed for 111 yards and two scores on 21 carries.
USC fell to 4-7 with the loss in the home finale. The Trojans will wrap up the season next week against Cal. BYU improved to 10-3.
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