Final - USC 20, UCLA 38
We’re here for the 93rd edition of the crosstown rivalry between the USC Trojans (7-4, 5-3) and UCLA Bruins (6-4, 3-4). Follow along with WeAreSC as we provide live updates of the notable and scoring plays in this one.
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Pregame Warmups
* It looks like some good news on the injury front for the Trojans ahead of this game. Linebacker Eric Gentry and safety Jaylin Smith are both going through early warmups. They both missed last week’s game at Oregon due to injury. Cornerback Jacobe Covington is also going through warmups. He hasn’t played since sustaining an injury against Arizona, missing the past five games.
* Caleb Williams took a slow turn and looked around the Coliseum before heading up the tunnel during the Trojan walk. He has yet to announce anything, but it is certainly expected that this will be his final game in the Coliseum for the Trojans.
* Wide receiver Michael Jackson III is in attendance and warming up early with the skill players. He has missed the past few games for an undisclosed reason.
* It is expected that Ethan Garbers will get the start at quarterback for UCLA today. The Bruins have used three quarterbacks this season due to effectiveness and injury. Garbers was hurt against Arizona two weeks ago and was available on an emergency basis last week against Arizona State but didn’t play. He’s completed 68% of his passes for 786 yards and six touchdowns against three interceptions this season.
* USC true freshman quarterback Malachi Nelson is not dressed to play today. He is in attendance watching the Trojans warm up.
* USC will be without starting right tackle Jarrett Kingston against the Bruins. Michael Tarquin will get the start at right tackle for the Trojans.
* The starting lineup for the defense during full team warmups has a defensive line of Solomon Byrd, Bear Alexander, Tyrone Taleni and Jamil Muhammad. Mason Cobb and Shane Lee are at inside linebacker. Domani Jackson and Christian Roland-Wallace are the cornerbacks, with Calen Bullock, Max Williams and Jaylin Smith as the safeties.
First Quarter
* UCLA wins the toss and elects to defer. Caleb Williams and the Trojans’ offense will take the field first.
* UCLA makes the first big play of the game with a fourth-down stop on USC’s opening drive. Trojans get a first down on the first play of the game but then can’t turn a 2nd-and-2 into a first down. UCLA takes over at the USC 48-yard line with 12:26 remaining in the first quarter.
* UCLA running back T.J. Harden caps off the scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown run. It’s 7-0 UCLA with 9:15 remaining in the first quarter.
* USC goes three-and-out with a false start penalty and the Trojans’ offensive line getting beat badly on a third-down play. UCLA will take over at its own 27-yard line after the punt and USC needs to wake up in a hurry. It’s still early, with 7:31 remaining in the first quarter.
* USC defensive lineman Jack Sullivan comes up with a key sack on 3rd-and-15 to stop a UCLA drive. Trojans take over at their 9-yard line after a Bruin punt with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter.
* The Trojans lose a fumble for the seventh game in a row and the tenth time this season as the ball is ripped away from Zachariah Branch after a completion. UCLA takes over at the USC 19-yard line with 3:40 remaining in the first quarter.
* UCLA capitalizes right away. It takes the Bruins three plays to go 19 yards as Ethan Garbers hits tight end Hudson Habermehl for a wide-open score. It’s 14-0 UCLA with 2:46 remaining in the first quarter.
* Another USC turnover as Caleb Williams tries to hit Brenden Rice down the sideline but Devin Kirkwood outmuscles Rice for the ball. UCLA takes over at the USC 45-yard line with 1:49 remaining in the first quarter.
* Trojans are helped by a UCLA drop and force a three-and-out. But the Bruin punt is downed at the one-yard line.
Second Quarter
* Williams lofts one deep toward Rice and he runs under it for a 74-yard touchdown. Maybe that’s the big play the Trojans needed on a 3rd-and-10 to wake them up a bit. It’s 14-7 UCLA with 14:01 remaining in the first half. That’s a 7-play, 99-yard drive for the Trojans.
* UCLA drives 52 yards but a 36-yard field goal attempt hits the right upright and bounces out. USC will take over at its own 17-yard line with 7:46 remaining in the half down by seven points.
* Another offensive drive in which USC can get nothing going. Two runs by MarShawn Lloyd and a scramble by Caleb Williams nets zero yards. UCLA takes over at its own 35-yard line following a punt.
* USC defense shows up again. UCLA goes three and out and the ball is headed back to the Trojans, who will take over at their own 14-yard line with 5:04 remaining in the half.
* Trojans drive the length of the field but absolutely break down in the red zone. Backward passes to Zachariah Branch and Brenden Rice lose two yards. Williams throws incomplete. And then Denis Lynch misses a 25-yard field goal. It’s still 14-7 UCLA as the Bruins take over with 1:37 remaining before halftime.
* The USC defense forces its third three-and-out in the past four drives and UCLA is forced to punt following a Solomon Byrd sack. But the Trojans cost themselves field position with a holding penalty on the punt. It’s USC’s ball at the 32-yard line with just 51 seconds left before halftime.
* The Trojans are able to hit a field goal just before halftime as Lynch connects from 34 yards out. It’s 14-10 UCLA with just two seconds until half.
Halftime Stats
Score – UCLA 14, USC 10
Total Yards – UCLA 171, USC 270
Passing Yards – UCLA 81, USC 269
Rushing Yards – UCLA 89, USC 1
Third-down Conversions – UCLA 5-10, USC 3-7
Turnovers – UCLA 0, USC 2
Sacks – UCLA 1, USC 3
Third Quarter
* Close play on the opening drive of the second half as it looked as though Mason Cobb may have pulled the ball away from UCLA running back T.J. Harden on a tackle. The officials reviewed it and ruled the runner down before the fumble.
* UCLA converts five third-downs on the opening drive of the second half, including a third-and-seven that results in a touchdown pass from Garbers to Harden. It’s 21-10 UCLA with 9:45 remaining in the third quarter.
* MarShawn Lloyd fumbles on a hit by Jaylin Davies and it’s returned for a UCLA touchdown by Alex Johnson. It’s 28-10 UCLA with 9:29 left in the third quarter.
* A USC drive is stopped by back-to-back sacks by Laiatu Latu and the Trojans are forced to kick a 34-yard field goal. It’s 28-13 UCLA with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter.
* UCLA hits a 35-yard field goal to push the Bruins’ lead to 31-13 with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
* USC gains one yard on fourth-and-two and turns it over. UCLA gets the ball at the USC 38-yard line with 14:07 remaining in the game.
* UCLA scores on third-and-11 when USC misses a tackle in the open field and then tackles Habermehl into the endzone. UCLA is up 38-13 with 9:06 remaining and the Coliseum is emptying.
* USC scores a touchdown on an Austin Jones run from seven yards out to make the score 38-20 with 3:52 remaining in the game.
* Cheers from the UCLA fans still in the Coliseum as the Bruins take a knee and win this one.
