USC overcomes early adversity to defeat UCLA to become bowl eligible

Their goal was long gone. Any delusions of grandeur had been interrupted. The only consolation left near the end of a frustrating season was a bowl game and bragging rights. Even still, as his third season at USC slipped from relevance, coach Lincoln Riley had preached the importance of finishing strong despite it all. Good programs, he repeated, always ended on their best.

But until late Saturday, USC hadn’t looked like a program ready to put its checkered past behind it. The new quarterback blew his whistle. The running game had stalled. Three drives deep into the red zone had fallen short. Chance after chance, surrendered by UCLA, had been squandered.

And still, after all the missteps and missed opportunities, Makai Lemon looked up to see Kyron Hudson flying wide open down the field. So USC’s leading receiver pulled his arm back and threw it as hard as he could.

It was as improbable a play as any in the recent history of the cross-town rivalry — a 39-yard double pass — but it was all USC ultimately needed to put away UCLA, 19-13. On the next play, quarterback Jayden Maiava found Ja’Kobi Lane for a go-ahead score.

UCLA had two minutes to mount its own comeback drive. But with its rival gaining bowl eligibility with the win, the Bruins were bullied out of bowl contention with the loss.

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers is sacked by the USC defense in the third quarter Saturday.

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

For USC, it was the first true road win of the season. And it certainly wasn’t easy. Maiava completed just under 50% of his passes and threw for 221 yards and a score, while Woody Marks had one of his least productive rushing efforts of the season.

Ethan Garbers appeared ready to play all for UCLA as the Bruins seized momentum in the third quarter. He completed his first 11 passes of the half, but eventually finished 0-for-4 when it mattered most at the end. He finished with 265 yards and a touchdown.

Neither team was able to capitalize on any of their chances early on. USC drove nearly the entire field in the first quarter, thanks to a 64-yard catch-and-run by Makai Lemon, only to be stopped three consecutive times inside the three-yard line. Its next drive stalled in almost the same place, in almost the same way, with Maiava throwing two straight endzones, one of which was intended for a wide-open Lake McRee.

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1. UCLA’s Devin Kirkwood (3) and Ramon Henderson (11) prevent USC receiver Jacobi Lane from making a catch in the end zone in the first quarter Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 2. UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers passes in front of defensive end Braylan Shelby. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 3. UCLA wide receiver Logan Loya, left, prevents USC linebacker Mason Cobb from making an interception. 4. USC wide receiver Kyle Ford cannot make the catch in the end zone as UCLA defensive back Jalin Davies defends. 5. USC coach Lincoln Riley, left, and UCLA coach DeShaun Foster meet on the field after the game. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

The Trojans crossed the field again just before halftime, draining the clock on a 14-play drive that gave them another first down inside the five-yard line. But a first-down run was stuffed. Another fade fell incomplete. And a third-down attempt, in tight coverage, bounced off Kyle Ford’s hands, leaving points on the table for a third straight possession.

USC instead had to settle for a field goal, its third of the first half.

However, the nine points were good enough to keep UCLA ahead before the break. Even when the Bruins broke off five gains of 15 yards or more in the first half — matching their counterparts — that explosiveness went largely for naught.

Not once did UCLA reach the red zone in the first half as USC’s defense pressed every time the Bruins crossed midfield. A UCLA drive was stonewalled after a 40-yard run by Harden into USC territory. Another ended on an errant fourth-down incompletion by Garbers.

USC safety Akili Arnold celebrates after UCLA turned the ball over late in the fourth quarter Saturday.

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

UCLA was stopped in USC territory again just before the half, only for tempers to boil over. Pushing and shoving ensued. As the two rivals ran off the track, the two rivals taunted each other on their way to their respective tunnels.

The game resulted in three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on UCLA, giving USC great field position to open the third quarter. But the Trojans weren’t able to do anything about it, failing to convert on a fourth down near midfield.

UCLA finally took advantage on the game’s first touchdown drive midway through the third quarter. But that’s where its momentum stopped as the Bruins were forced to surrender the Victory Bell to USC.