USC 19-13 UCLA (Nov 23, 2024) Game Summary

PASADENA, Calif. — — Lincoln Riley and Southern California weren’t fazed when they trailed in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s game against cross-town rival UCLA.

Considering what they had already faced this week, it was just another hurdle.

The Trojans had 27 players plus staff out with the flu when they practiced Tuesday. USC was able to get through the week and then rallied for a 19-13 victory over the Bruins at the Rose Bowl in the 94th edition of the Crosstown Showdown.

“Great win,” Riley said. “It was an interesting week and we decided from the start that nothing out of our control would be an excuse. The only thing I can compare it to is maybe going through a COVID football season.”

Jayden Maiava passed for 221 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown to Ja’Kobi Lane midway through the fourth quarter, as the Trojans (6-5, 4-5 Big Ten) became bowl eligible with the win.

Woody Marks rushed for 76 yards and Michael Lantz kicked four field goals

It is the fifth year in a row that the road team has won the series. The Trojans have won 19 of the last 26 meetings.

“These wins are special. We know how much it means to this city, how much it means to this university,” Riley said.

Ethan Garbers was 20 of 29 for 265 yards for the Bruins (4-7, 3-6). J.Michael Sturdivant had five receptions for 117 yards and TJ Harden rushed for 98 yards.

“We let one slip through our hands. All these losses have largely come down to us letting it slip through our hands. We’ve got to find a way to close games,” Bruins coach DeShaun Foster said.

On first-and-goal at the UCLA 4, Maiava recovered a deep drop and avoided being sacked by UCLA’s Jacob Busic at the 11 before driving left and then finding Lane in the back corner of the end zone.

The Trojans’ go-ahead touchdown was set up one play earlier when Makai Lemon completed a 39-yard pass from a lateral to Kyron Hudson.

“Yes’Kobi, he is a great player and a great athlete. If he’s out there, of course I’ll throw it to him. He came down with the catch, an unbelievable catch,” said Maiava, who completed 19 of 35 passes.

On UCLA’s ensuing drive, Garbers was stopped on a QB sneak on fourth-and-1 at the Bruins 34 to turn it over on downs. Lantz extended the lead to six with a field goal.

The Bruins had one last chance to get a go-ahead, but Garbers had four consecutive incomplete passes.

“I can’t say enough about us defensively, how well we played to hold them down,” Riley said. “Obviously the big stops. We were just pretty amazing defensively, we really were. Played at a really high level.”

UCLA trailed 9-3 at halftime, but went on top with 9:37 left in the third quarter when Garbers hit Moliki Matavao on a tight end screen for a 10-yard touchdown.

The Bruins extended their lead to 13-9 late in the third quarter on Mateen Bhaghani’s second field goal.

UCLA got the opening kickoff and scored on Bhaghani’s 51-yard field goal. The Bruins caught a break when Garbers appeared to turn it over when he fumbled while being sacked by USC linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold. However, a replay review determined that Garbers was throwing and overturned the call to an incomplete pass.

The Trojans drove inside the UCLA 10 three times in the first half, but could only settle for field goals by Lantz.

Rare sight

UCLA started from its own 5 to start the second half after being called for three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties late in the second quarter.

The Trojans started at their own 48 after Lemon’s 16-yard kick return, but turned it over on downs when Lane dropped what would have been a 5-yard completion on fourth-and-3.

“Can’t retaliate. Can’t. I’ve played in this game. I know exactly what it’s going to be, exactly what’s going to happen. I know exactly what’s going to be said and I’m letting my guys know you can’t retaliate,” Foster said.

The takeaway

USC: The Trojans improved to 3-5 in one-possession games.

UCLA: The Bruins have lost two straight and seen their bowl hopes dashed.

Next

USC: Hosts No. 6 Notre Dame next Saturday.

UCLA: Hosts Fresno State next Saturday.

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