USC beats UCLA: Trojans advance to Pac-12 Championship Game vs Stanford
By Gabe Encinas
The USC Trojans knocked off the UCLA Bruins to win the Pac-12 South and will play Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Two weeks ago, no one would have expected UCLA to even be in this position. It was down to Utah and USC for the Pac-12 South, who both suffered ugly losses down the stretch of the season. But in Cody Kessler’s final home game as a USC Trojan, he was poised to lead his group of seniors to their first win over UCLA, snapping a three-game losing streak vs the Bruins with a 40-21 win.
USC took the lead with a field goal early in the first quarter, but UCLA later responded with a 19-yard touchdown run via Paul Perkins, on a 4th and 1 call by Jim Mora.
From there, it was back and forth between the two, with USC claiming the lead, and then UCLA recapturing. UCLA was able to drive down the field with Perkins to lead a balanced attack and take some pressure off true freshman quarterback Josh Rosen, who looked like a seasoned veteran throughout the most of the first half.
A punt return for a touchdown by Adoree’ Jackson in the closing minute of the first half gave USC all the momentum they needed going into the second half.
ADOREE' KNOWS. #HeGone
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 28, 2015
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It was the second half where Josh Rosen started to show his age. Turning the ball over three times (two interceptions and one fumble) Rosen sealed UCLA’s fate.
USC was pounding UCLA with the run game, and opening up the passing game for Cody Kessler on Senior Day, throwing for 175 yards, and 2 touchdowns, with one on the ground as well.
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Now, USC will advance to the Pac-12 Championship Game for a rematch vs. the Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal handed USC their first of four losses on the season, by a final score of 41-31.
With a win over Stanford, the then 9-4 USC Trojans will go on to play in the Rose Bowl, which is hard to wrap your mind around, considering the 3-3 start, which including a loss to Washington at home, and the dismissal of Steve Sarkisian