MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Los Angeles) – UCLA scored 14 points in 16 seconds early in the third quarter to blow open a tight game and went on to beat USC 38-20 Saturday in front of 72, 243 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

The Trojans had three costly turnovers in the contest with the most crucial coming with 9:29 remaining in the third quarter. Already trailing 21-10 after UCLA scored on its first possession of the third quarter, USC was backed up deep in its own territory after a penalty on the kickoff. On first down MarShawn Lloyd took a handoff, broke a tackle and was running left when he suddenly lost the ball. Alex Johnson scooped it up and retuned it 11 yards for a touchdown and the Bruins were suddenly up 28-10. There were still over 24 minutes of football remaining but this proved to be a knockout blow.

UCLA led 14-10 at halftime but increased it to 21-10 on the first possession of the third quarter on a touchdown reception by T. J. Harden to cap a 65-yard drive. That score left the Trojans on their heels. Johnson’s touchdown scoop and score knocked them out.

Things didn’t look good for USC from the outset. The Trojans were stopped on fourth and one on their own 48-yard line on the first possession. UCLA cashed in going 48 yards on 7 plays. Harden scored on a one-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

The Trojans went three and out on their next possession and were forced to punt. UCLA didn’t score on that series but did later in the quarter.

Zachariah Branch fumbled after a reception and UCLA recovered at the USC 19. The Bruins used just three plays to get into the endzone as Ethan Garbers hit Hudson Habermehl for a 14-yard touchdown with 2:46 left in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.

USC turned it over again on the next series when Devin Kirkwood picked off Caleb Williams at the Trojans 45. However the USC defense held and forced a Bruins punt. UCLA was up by 14 after the first quarter. 

The Trojans finally got off the floor early in the second quarter when Caleb Williams hit Brenden Rice in stride for a 74-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7.

Both teams missed field goals in the second quarter. Blake Glessner missed a 36-yard attempt for UCLA with 7:46 left and USC’s Denis Lynch missed a chip shot-25 yarder- with over a minute left.

But the Trojans got the ball back after holding UCLA and moved the ball down to the Bruins 17-yard line where Lynch booted a 34-yard field goal with two seconds left.  

UCLA led 14-10 at the half. 

Then the tide shifted dramatically in the Bruins favor. UCLA pieced together a 15-play, 65-yard drive to open the third quarter with Garbers hitting Harden on the seven-yard score to finish it. 

On the very first play of the next series Lloyd fumbled, Johnson scored and although the fat lady was not yet singing, she was reportedly seen warming up at the peristyle end of the Coliseum.   

Lynch kicked a 34-yard field goal with 3:51 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 15.

The Bruins countered with a 35-yard field goal by Glessner to increase the margin to 31-13.

After the Trojans were stopped on fourth down the Bruins scored again. Garbers found Habermehl again on a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 38-13.

Austin Jones scored a late touchdown for the Trojans on a seven-yard run with 3:52 left but it was way too little and much too late. The Bruins ran out the clock on the next series.

For USC Williams completed 31-42 for 384 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Rice caught 7 passes 147 yards and a score, Lloyd caught 3 for 75 and Branch had 5 receptions for 51 yards. The Trojans running attack was non-existent as they had only three total rushing yards.

For UCLA Garbers went 18 of 31 for 155 yards and 3 touchdowns. Harden ran for 142 yards and a score on 22 carries and Carson Steele had 49 yards on 12 totes. Logan Loya hauled in 6 passes for 49 yards.

USC finished the regular season at 7-5 after starting 6-0. The Trojans are 5-4 in the Pac 12 Conference. UCLA improved to 7-4 and 4-4 in the Pac-12. The Bruins will host Cal next Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in the regular season finale.