USC Claims Victory Bell in Spirited Rivalry Clash Against UCLA
The No. 17 USC Trojans secured a pivotal victory over their archrivals, the UCLA Bruins, in a hard-fought contest that ultimately saw USC pull away to retain the coveted Victory Bell. The final score reflected USC's dominance in key moments, with the Trojans ultimately triumphing with a score of USC 29, UCLA 10. This win not only solidified bragging rights but also clinched a nine-win season for USC, a significant achievement in the final days of their fourth season under head coach Lincoln Riley.
The atmosphere at the Coliseum was electric, a testament to the enduring significance of this historic rivalry. For many of the UCLA newcomers, this game represented their first true immersion into the intensity and deep-seated emotions that define the USC-UCLA matchup. Legendary UCLA coach Red Sanders famously declared the rivalry "more important than life or death," a sentiment that resonated through the present-day players, many of whom required a primer on the historical weight of this particular fixture.
Early Exchanges and USC's Opening Drive
The game commenced with UCLA winning the coin toss and electing to defer, setting the stage for USC to receive the opening kickoff. The Trojans began their initial drive from their own 25-yard line. The opening sequences saw Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, USC's prominent receivers, benched for the initial drive. Reports indicated this was not for health reasons, and the duration of this benching remained uncertain.
USC's opening offensive series was characterized by a run-heavy approach. Running back King Miller was instrumental, carrying the ball multiple times for significant gains, including runs of five, thirteen, five, and another four yards. Quarterback Jayden Maiava also contributed, passing for 26 yards to Tanook Hines. Following a pitch from Maiava that Miller recovered for a five-yard gain, USC continued to pound the ball on the ground. Miller added runs of five and four yards before ultimately capping off the drive with a five-yard touchdown scamper. Kicker Ryon Sayeri successfully converted the extra point, giving USC an early 7-0 lead.
UCLA Responds and Ties the Score
UCLA began their first possession of the game on their own 25-yard line following a touchback. The USC defense proved stout, forcing the Bruins into a three-and-out. Nico Iamaleava's passes to Kwazi Gilmer for six yards and an incompletion were followed by a pass that bounced off Mikey Matthews' hands, broken up by USC's Christian Pierce. Punter Will Karoll delivered a 50-yard punt, with Josiah Zamora returning it 13 yards to the USC 32.
Read also: Holistic Review at UCLA
The Bruins found their rhythm in the second quarter, orchestrating a touchdown drive to level the score. Starting from their 21-yard line after a blocked field goal attempt by USC, UCLA methodically moved the ball downfield. Iamaleava connected with Hudson Habermehl for five yards, and Anthony Woods added runs of five and then twelve yards. Jalen Berger contributed with runs of three and four yards. A key moment came when USC was called for an offsides penalty, gifting UCLA a first down. Anthony Frias II added runs of six and then six yards, moving the ball to the USC 33 as the first quarter expired.
Berger then lined up in the wildcat formation, faking a handoff and running for 17 yards to the right, followed by another four yards to the USC 12. Iamaleava found Mikey Matthews for seven yards. On first-and-goal at the USC 5, Iamaleava ran for one yard, and Frias added two yards. On third-and-goal at the USC 2, UCLA called a timeout. Following the break, Iamaleava threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Kwazi Gilmer. Mateen Bhaghani converted the extra point, tying the game at 7-7 with 11:25 left in the second quarter.
Missed Opportunities and UCLA Takes the Lead
USC had an opportunity to regain the lead, but their drive stalled due to a missed field goal. Starting from their 25-yard line after a touchback, USC moved the ball effectively. Jayden Maiava connected with King Miller for a 20-yard reception, followed by another four yards. Maiava, nearly sacked, managed to get a pass away that was nearly intercepted before Makai Lemon tipped it down. Maiava then connected with Walker Lyons for 10 yards, moving the ball to the UCLA 41. Riley Wormley added a 17-yard reception and a one-yard run. Maiava then found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 12-yard gain. However, subsequent plays resulted in a three-yard loss for Bryan Jackson and a two-yard gain for Lemon. Maiava's pass fell incomplete, leading to a 30-yard field goal attempt by Ryon Sayeri, which sailed wide right, marking USC's second missed field goal of the game.
UCLA capitalized on this momentum, taking the lead late in the second quarter with a field goal. Starting on their own 20-yard line after a missed USC field goal, the Bruins moved the ball effectively. Anthony Woods ran for twelve yards, and Iamaleava connected with Woods for three yards. Iamaleava then gained two yards before slipping. He then passed to Kwazi Gilmer for 11 yards. An incomplete pass and a no-gain run followed. On third-and-10, the two-minute warning was triggered. Iamaleava completed another pass to Gilmer for 11 yards. Woods added a one-yard run, and USC called a timeout with 1:24 remaining.
Iamaleava then escaped a collapsing pocket, running for 11 yards to the USC 29. He connected with Woods for three yards, prompting USC to use their final timeout with 1:17 left. A short pass intended for Gilmer was broken up. On third-and-seven, Iamaleava again evaded pressure, running for what was initially ruled a seven-yard gain, but was later reviewed and credited as six yards, setting up a fourth-and-one at the USC 26 with 47 seconds remaining. After attempting to draw USC offside, UCLA called a timeout with 22 seconds left. Mateen Bhaghani lined up for a 38-yard field goal and successfully converted, giving UCLA a 10-7 lead with 18 seconds left in the half.
Read also: SAT Score for UCLA
The teams then engaged in a chippy exchange, with players shouting at each other and being separated by staff before heading to their respective tunnels.
Second Half Dominance by USC
The second half saw USC assert control of the game. After forcing UCLA to punt on their opening drive of the third quarter, USC's offense, despite a three-and-out initially, managed to score. Starting on their 9-yard line after a UCLA punt, Jayden Maiava connected with Walker Lyons for eight yards, followed by an eight-yard run by King Miller. After an incomplete pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane, and a six-yard run by Miller, Maiava found Lane for a 12-yard gain on third-and-four.
USC's offense found its stride on the subsequent drive. Starting on their 43-yard line, Maiava ran for six yards, and Tanook Hines added one yard. Walker Lyons caught a four-yard pass, and Lake McRee a 14-yard reception. The drive culminated with Maiava passing to Makai Lemon for a 32-yard touchdown. UCLA was called for pass interference on the play, but the penalty was declined. Ryon Sayeri's extra point was good, putting USC back in front, 14-10, with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
The USC defense then stepped up, forcing UCLA to punt once again. After UCLA started on their 15-yard line following a 14-yard kickoff return, Jalen Berger ran for eight yards as the third quarter expired. Berger added a four-yard run, and an incomplete pass to Kwazi Gilmer followed. An incomplete pass to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala was broken up by USC. Punter Will Karoll punted to the USC 8, and Makai Lemon returned it 35 yards to the USC 43 before being tackled.
USC Extends Lead and Seals Victory
In the fourth quarter, USC continued to build on their lead. Jayden Maiava connected with Makai Lemon to cap a touchdown drive, extending USC's advantage. Starting on their 43-yard line after a punt return, Maiava's pass was initially intercepted by Key Lawrence, but a pass interference call on Cole Martin and a roughing the passer penalty on Anthony Jones erased the turnover. USC accepted the roughing the passer penalty, gaining 15 yards. King Miller ran for five yards, and Maiava connected with Ja’Kobi Lane for a 27-yard gain to the UCLA 10. Maiava then passed to Miller for eight yards, and finally to Lake McRee for a two-yard touchdown. Ryon Sayeri's extra point was successful, making the score 21-10 in favor of USC with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter.
Read also: WCWS Rematch: UCLA vs. Tennessee
The USC defense continued to make crucial plays, forcing UCLA into difficult situations. UCLA was haunted by penalties, including a false start and a delay of game, which hampered their offensive progress. Nico Iamaleava completed passes for eleven, eight, and three yards to Kwazi Gilmer, but a sack for a three-yard loss and another delay of game penalty created a challenging scenario. Despite a 24-yard pass to Anthony Woods on third-and-21, UCLA ultimately turned the ball over on downs at the USC 35 after failing to convert a fourth-and-15.
With the game essentially in hand, USC added to their lead with a long touchdown run by King Miller. Starting on their 35-yard line with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter, Miller ran for seven, fourteen, and three yards before UCLA called a timeout. Miller then broke free, bouncing to the left side of the field and rumbling for a 41-yard touchdown. USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play, resulting in a 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff. USC lined up in an odd formation, and backup quarterback Gage Roy passed to Walker Lyons for the two-point conversion, extending USC's lead to 29-10 with 2:29 remaining.
In the final minutes, USC's defense made a decisive play to seal the victory. On fourth down, Nico Iamaleava was sacked for a loss of five yards with 46 seconds left, effectively ending UCLA's hopes. USC then called a timeout and ran out the clock, securing their 29-10 win and the Victory Bell.
tags: #ucla #usc #football #box #score
