No. 19 USC football pulls away in 2nd half for rivalry win over UCLA

LOS ANGELES — The USC football team shut down UCLA in the second half to beat the Bruins 29-10 and finish off the season undefeated at the Coliseum.

The Trojans (9-3 overall, 7-2 Big Ten) improve to 52-34 all-time in the rivalry game.

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 21-of-29 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava was 27-of-38 for 200 yards and a touchdown.

Nine different Trojans recorded a reception and King Miller was the leading rusher with 124 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Kwazi Gilmer had 11 catches for 92 yards and one touchdown as the best receiver for the Bruins (3-9, 3-6).

USC played freely in the second half, eager to finish off the season on a high note after missing out on the College Football Playoff and falling to Oregon the week prior.

Jide Abasiri ended the Trojans’ two-game streak of no sacks when he took down Iamaleava for a loss of 8 yards, forcing the Bruins to punt.

The offense responded with urgency. Maiava sent a 31-yard pass up the middle to Ja’Kobi Lane, who was hit hard by defensive back Cole Martin on his way to a 12-yard gain. Maiava faked a handoff and sprinted another 6 yards to get the Trojans to midfield.

Four plays later, Makai Lemon was waiting in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown reception. UCLA’s Kanye Clark leaped to break up the pass but was unable to disrupt the play fully.

USC pulled ahead 14-10 with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and UCLA slipped further from an upset at the start of the fourth.

Cornerback Marcellus Williams popped the ball out of Bruins receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala’s hands on third down. UCLA punted, and Lemon weaved his way to a 45-yard punt return.

Tight ends Walker Lyons and Lake McRee celebrated with “four’s down” hand gestures in the end zone with 11:24 on the clock. Maiava faked a handoff to a sweeping Lemon and immediately turned to his right to sling a two-yard pass to McRee to bring the score to 21-10.

Miller added an insurance touchdown on a 41-yard run. Backup quarterback Gage Roy took the ball and passed to Walker Lyons for a successful 2-point conversion.

USC started the game strong and scored on its opening drive when the offensive line cleared a gap large enough for running back King Miller to glide five yards into the end zone. However, UCLA was also chasing an optimistic end to the season after a tumultuous season due to the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster.

The Bruins kept the first half competitive. Freshman linebacker Taylor Scott blocked Ryon Sayeri’s 38-yard field goal attempt and when the Bruins got the ball back, they scored at the start of the second quarter.

Iamaleava sent a quick-release pass from the 2-yard to Kwazi Gilmer, who has been the quarterback’s favorite target all season to finish off a 13-play, 79-yard drive with 11:23 remaining in the opening quarter.

Trojan starting receivers Lemon and Lane did not start the game, with the coaching staff plugging in senior Jay Fair as well as redshirt senior Jaden Richardson while rolling out 12-personnel.

The dynamic receiving duo came on the field after the Bruins’ touchdown and helped the Trojans get into field goal range, but it was running backs King Miller and Riley Wormley who shouldered the offensive load.

Wormley gained 17 yards off a pass from Maiava to get USC a fresh set of downs, and the Trojans worked their way to the 12-yard line. Sayeri came out for his second field goal attempt, which went wide right.

The Bruins took the lead with 18 seconds to go until the halftime break. Iamaleava, whose health was questionable all week due to neck spasms, proved difficult for the Trojans’ defense to contain. He escaped a collapsing pocket on a second down to run for 11 yards and set his team up at the 29-yard line.

He broke free for another run and, as the officials first saw it, gained a first down. However, further review concluded that he was just short of the down marker, forcing UCLA into a fourth-and-1 situation.

Mateen Bhaghani nailed a 38-yard field goal for a 10-7 advantage. Coaches had to hold UCLA players back as USC made its way to the locker room and when the Bruins charged into the tunnel, they did so holding their hands in a “two’s down” gesture — one final flash of competitiveness before the Trojans took over in the second half.

UCLA is not bowl eligible, but USC will continue its season. The Trojans are projected to compete in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30.