No. 13 USC beats UCLA, 36-14, to keep its hopes of a Pac-12 title alive
Breaking down No. 13 USC’s 36-14 victory over UCLA at the Rose Bowl.
Sam Darnold constantly evaluates the defense in front of him, probing and probing until a favorable matchup materializes.
It might involve the USC freshman quarterback utilizing a sparingly used tight end, as Darnold did in recent victories over Colorado and Washington. It could mean getting the ball to one of the Trojans’ more heralded playmakers.
On Saturday night, with USC struggling in the second quarter against a plucky rival, it necessitated featuring a junior-college transfer who entered the game with four catches as a Trojan.
Darnold lofted a pass toward the end zone, where receiver De’Quan Hampton outleaped UCLA safety Randall Goforth to haul in a 31-yard touchdown pass that nudged the No. 13 Trojans ahead and sparked what would become a dominant 36-14 victory over the Bruins at the Rose Bowl.
Darnold and Hampton connected again early in the third quarter on a six-yard touchdown pass, part of 29 unanswered points by the Trojans on the way to their seventh consecutive victory. The touchdown catches were the first of Hampton’s career.
USC (8-3 overall, 7-2 Pac-12 Conference) remained in the running for the Pac-12 South Division title, needing only Utah to beat Colorado next week to advance to the conference championship game Dec. 2 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara against the winner of the Washington-Washington State game.
“We are going to be praying,” USC tailback Justin Davis said, “but anything is possible.”
The prospects are far more grim for UCLA (4-7, 2-6) after the Bruins suffered their most lopsided loss of the season and dropped their second consecutive game in the series against USC following three consecutive victories. UCLA can qualify for a bowl game only if it beats California next week and then gains a postseason invitation because of a shortage of teams with .500 or better records.
UCLA’s defense, the one facet of its game that was expected to prevent the Bruins’ 86th meeting against USC from becoming a runaway, crumpled after intercepting two Darnold passes in the first half.
The Trojans stomped their way to 260 rushing yards and Darnold rebounded to complete 25 of 36 passes for 267 yards with two touchdowns along with those interceptions before ceding the final 61/2 minutes to backup Max Browne.
“We haven’t played a guy that’s as mobile as he is, as heady as he is, can keep his eyes down the field like he can and then make throws down the field,” UCLA Coach Jim Mora said of Darnold. “And I think that’s what makes him special.”
The time of possession told the story: USC held the ball for 43:47, UCLA for 16:13. The Trojans ran 95 plays to the Bruins’ 51.
USC confirmed its supremacy in the second half with a punishing 18-play, 73-yard drive that chewed up 9:02 and resulted in Matt Boermeester’s 32-yard field goal. That put the Trojans ahead, 33-14, and prompted the dispersal of many blue-clad fans among the crowd of 71,137.
UCLA appeared to announce its surrender on its previous drive, when Jalen Starks ran for one yard on third and two and the Bruins punted from their own 47-yard line on fourth and one.
“There was talk about it,” UCLA offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu said when asked about the possibility of going for the first down, “but we want to convert those third downs. If you convert the third downs you stay on schedule.”
The Bruins’ lack of faith in their running game was understandable.
UCLA ran for 55 yards on the day Mora turned 55, which seemed about right given the team’s nosediving fortunes during its first losing season since 2011. That rushing total was even more appalling considering UCLA ran for 47 yards in the first quarter.
USC’s 23-14 halftime lead came courtesy of 16 consecutive points that scrubbed away the Bruins’ early momentum generated by receiver Jordan Lasley.
“It shows the maturity of this team,” Trojans Coach Clay Helton said of the rally. “I didn’t see any panic. They hit us in the mouth early.”
Lasley scored both of UCLA’s first-half touchdowns and completed a 30-yard pass on the Bruins’ first trick play of the season.
Lasley’s first touchdown came on a 56-yard pass from quarterback Mike Fafaul. Lasley made the catch at the Trojans’ 39-yard line, beating the coverage from former Gardena Serra High teammate Adoree’ Jackson before slipping a tackle from cornerback Ajene Harris. Lasley was so enthused by the play that he earned a personal foul for excessive celebration.
The penalty became more than a footnote when UCLA’s ensuing kickoff trickled out of bounds, allowing USC to start its drive at midfield. Ronald Jones II eventually plowed ahead for a one-yard touchdown.
Lasley gave the Bruins their final lead early in the second quarter when he grabbed a Fafaul pass in the corner of the end zone while being smothered by Jackson for a seven-yard touchdown.
“Scoring touchdowns always feels good,” Lasley said, “but you have to win.”
The balance of the game belonged to the Trojans.
USC’s tailbacks, who generated only one yard in nine carries in the first quarter, got going in a hurry when Jones burst through the defense for a 60-yard touchdown run to tie the score. Jones finished with 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns to go with something even more significant.
“I am 2-0 against UCLA,” Jones said, “so that was fun.”
Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch
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