USC
4-0 , 2-0
California
3-1 , 0-1
Team Stats
USC 0, CAL 3
CAL - Anderson, Matt 36 yd field goal 10 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:48
USC 3, CAL 3
USC - McGrath, Chase 37 yd field goal 5 plays, 19 yards, TOP 2:07
USC 3, CAL 10
CAL - Enwere, Vic 1 yd run (Anderson, Matt kick), 12 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:59
USC 10, CAL 10
USC - Petite, Tyler 16 yd pass from Darnold, Sam (McGrath, Chase kick) 8 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:05
USC 13, CAL 10
USC - McGrath, Chase 34 yd field goal 9 plays, 35 yards, TOP 2:54
USC 13, CAL 13
CAL - Anderson, Matt 21 yd field goal 10 plays, 71 yards, TOP 1:59
USC 16, CAL 13
USC - McGrath, Chase 46 yd field goal 10 plays, 30 yards, TOP 3:56
USC 23, CAL 13
USC - Carr, Stephen 2 yd run (McGrath, Chase kick), 2 plays, 4 yards, TOP 0:42
USC 30, CAL 13
USC - Burnett, Deonta 4 yd pass from Darnold, Sam (McGrath, Chase kick) 6 plays, 33 yards, TOP 1:49
USC 30, CAL 20
CAL - Veasy, Jordan 8 yd pass from Bowers, Ross (Anderson, Matt kick) 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:57
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
No. 5 USC Pulls Away Late for 30-20 Win Over California
September 23, 2017 | Football, Features
USC (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12) has dominated the series with its in-state rival by winning 14 straight against the Golden Bears (3-1, 0-1), but this was one of the tightest matchups in years as the game was tied early in the fourth quarter.
Sam Darnold threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns for the Trojans but also had an interception and was under pressure for much of the day.
It was the defense that stepped up for USC, intercepting a pass from Ross Bowers in the first quarter to set up a field goal and then delivering the big play early in the fourth quarter after Chase McGrath gave the Trojans a 16-13 lead with his third field goal of the game.
Josh Fatu knocked the ball out of Bowers' hand and Uchenna Nwosu recovered the fumble at the 3. Carr ran it in two plays later from the 2 to make it 23-13.
Ykili Ross then intercepted Bowers' pass on the next possession, setting up Darnold's 4-yard TD pass to Deontay Burnett that put away the game.
Bowers finished 22 for 50 for 303 yards with one touchdown, four interceptions and two lost fumbles.
THE TAKEAWAY
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: The Trojans struggled for much of the game without starting RB Ronald Jones (ankle) and WR Steven Mitchell (groin) but managed to pull away late in their first road game of the season.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
A win against an unranked team should do little to alter USC's poll position.
UP NEXT
USC: Visits No. 18 Washington State on Friday.
