USC
10-2 , 8-1
UCLA
5-6 , 3-5
Team Stats
UCLA 0, USC 7
USC - Pittman, Michae 72 yd punt return (McGrath, Chase kick)
UCLA 7, USC 7
UCLA - Lasley, Jordan 11 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Molson, JJ kick) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:19
UCLA 7, USC 14
USC - Jones, Ronald 2 yd run (McGrath, Chase kick), 6 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:31
UCLA 7, USC 21
USC - Darnold, Sam 1 yd run (McGrath, Chase kick), 5 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:10
UCLA 14, USC 21
UCLA - Lasley, Jordan 9 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Molson, JJ kick) 7 plays, 79 yards, TOP 2:30
UCLA 17, USC 21
UCLA - Molson, JJ 26 yd field goal 9 plays, 77 yards, TOP 2:52
UCLA 17, USC 28
USC - Jones, Ronald 2 yd run (McGrath, Chase kick), 10 plays, 90 yards, TOP 4:53
UCLA 23, USC 28
UCLA - Lasley, Jordan 27 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Rosen, Josh passfailed) 8 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:29
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
No. 12 USC Holds Off UCLA, 28-23
November 18, 2017 | Football, Features
Darnold passed for 264 yards and ran for a touchdown, and No. 11 USC persevered for its third consecutive victory over its crosstown rivals, 28-23 on Saturday night.
Although he threw one interception and failed to get a touchdown pass for the third time this season, Darnold made enough steady plays to keep USC in front of UCLA (5-6, 3-5).
"Beating UCLA, keeping the Victory Bell here, and just staying undefeated at home for the last two years, it's a huge accomplishment," Darnold said.
Ronald Jones II rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns, and Michael Pittman Jr. returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown on a spectacular trick play in the first quarter of the regular-season finale for the Pac-12 South champion Trojans (10-2, 8-1).
Rosen passed for 421 yards and hit Jordan Lasley for three touchdowns in the first collegiate meeting between Los Angeles' star quarterbacks. Lasley had 10 catches for 204 yards.
Darnold and Rosen left their high schools on opposite sides of the LA area three seasons ago, but hadn't yet played against each other due to Darnold's redshirt year in 2015 and Rosen's shoulder injury in 2016. With dozens of NFL scouts and executives in the Coliseum, Darnold and Rosen both looked sharp — but Darnold's receivers and running game came up bigger while UCLA fell behind early and couldn't catch up.
"We're not technically battling against each other, because I'm going against their defense," Darnold said. "But I think it's awesome to be able to battle against a great player like Josh."
Even after wrapping up a spot in the conference title game with a win at Colorado last week, USC finished strong in the crosstown showdown with its 16th consecutive victory at the Coliseum, including every game with Clay Helton as its head coach and Darnold as the starting quarterback.
"I thought our kids did what was needed to be done in a hard-fought ballgame," Helton said.
USC mounted a 90-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter, with Jones' second TD run capping it. Rosen then found Lasley for a 27-yard score with 2:43 to play, but his 2-point conversion pass was too high for Lasley.
USC recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock on the final home game for the Trojans' seniors.
THE TAKEAWAY
USC: The Trojans showed tenacity and resilience, finishing the regular season strong instead of taking the night off. The defense will be pleased by another encouraging performance heading to the league title game against Washington State or Stanford.
UP NEXT
USC: After a week off, the Pac-12 championship game in Santa Clara, California, on Dec. 1.
