USC won the toss, but elected to defer. UCLA will start with the ball, as they have many times this season.
Former Bruin quarterback Tom Ramsey is today’s honorary captain for UCLA. Ramsey led the 1982 UCLA team to a Rose Bowl win over Michigan in 1982.
Kick-returner Terrence Austin faked a hand-off to Glenn Love but then carried to the 27-yard line.
USC is penalized a timeout for ‘failure to wear proper equipment’ just as UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel calls a concurrent timeout. This all goes back to USC’s plan to wear its home jerseys today at the Rose Bowl.
Kahlil Bell gains only a yard on his first carry, a draw hand-off from the shotgun, and runs oce more for five yards to set UCLA up with third and short on its first series of downs.
Raymond Carter catches a screen pass on that third down but slips and falls for a three-yard loss. Carter has played only sparingly this year, so it is a surprise to see him play on such an important third down.
BRIAN PRICE FORCES FUMBLE. Great penetration from Price and fellow defensive tackle Brigham Harwell made the difference, C.J. Gable fumbled and Korey Bosworth recovered.
The play is under review, but it looks like Gable lost possession before his knee touched the ground.
UCLA begins a crucial possession from the USC 20 yard line.
WOW. Dominique Johnson catches a screen pass from Kevin Craft and then lofts a rainbow to Kahlil Bell for a touchdown. Best play UCLA has run this season, and it could not have come at a more important time.
A very short kick by UCLA’s Jimmy Rotstein- it only reached the 13-yard line- sets the Trojans up with great field position at the 36-yard line.
Price again Wallops USC’s Marck Sanchez, but Sanchez completes the pass. To make matter worse, REggie Carer is called for a 15-yard personal foul penalty.
Brian Price is pushing USC offensive linemen around with ease and he looks like one of the best players on the field right now for either team.
And the Bruins get the stop. USC will now try a long field goal, but either way, UCLA has preserved its lead.
The 41-yard field goal attempt is no good. UCLA still leads 7-0.
Another shifty move from Bell leads to a five yard gain, and then another on second down leads to a third and short situation.
Craft just misses freshman wideout Nelson Rosario, although it looked like Rosario ran a poor route. Let’s see if the UCLA defense can get another stop.
UCLA freshman Anthony Dye is burned by a Mark Sanchez pass as the Trojans move into UCLA territory for the second time this quarter.
Stefon Johnson falls in the backfield after UCLA’s Reggie Stokes makes a great tackle. It looks like USC will go for it here on fourth down.
Timeout, UCLA. And it’s interesting because the Bruins will now only have one timeout to work with in the second quarter (remember, they used one to honor an agreement about jersey colors).
A huge Mark Sanchez completion on fourth down- and on this play he actually received good protection and had time to throw. That play could be a killer for UCLA, which had all the momentum prior.
The penalties aren’t helping. UCLA has now been tacked with two 15-yard fouls, pass interference on Michael Norris and roughing the passer on Reggie Carter.
There goes the UCLA lead. Joe McKnight takes an end around in for a score, and the score is now tied, UCLA 7, USC 7.
Miscommunication station: Kevin Craft throws a fly route to Corey Harkey, but Harkey had stopped running, as if he thought it was a curl.
Craft throws into double coverage on third down, and the Bruins will now punt again.
Sanchez is starting to pick the UCLA secondary apart; he’s 6-for-6 and has found wide receivers downfield easily on his last few throws.
Damien Williams beats Michael Norris badly in the open field, the shakes past Rahim Moore into the endzoe. That’s the type of play that demonstrates the huge disparacy in athleticism on these two teams. USC now leads, 14-7.
The Trojans just went 60 yards in four plays and just over one minute of game time. Can they Bruins maintain that type of pace?
Another Trojan gaffe. Rey Maluga hits Kevin Craft very late, and the ensuing 15-yard penalty gives the Bruins a first down.