UCLA started off its latest installment in the L.A. crosstown rivalry, in which it leads 14-7 at halftime, blowing smoke with its actions.
Starting freshman right tackle Caleb Benenoch was ejected for a “striking” penalty that saw him put a USC player on the ground with a strike to the face. Benenoch’s ejection came on the second drive of two opening possessions that saw the Bruins go three-and-out. The Bruins recovered with consecutive touchdown drives to capture a 14-0 lead on the Trojans.
UCLA’s first scoring drive started within a couple yards of midfield, thanks to a short USC punt. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley scrambled for 25 yards on the drive and found running backs Paul Perkins and Jordon James on 10-plus-yard catch-and-runs on the way to putting UCLA at the USC 3-yard line. Freshman outside linebacker Myles Jack scored his seventh touchdown of the year to conclude the late first quarter drive.
Fellow first-year defensive player Eddie Vanderdoes scored UCLA’s next points, taking a 1-yard goal-line carry into the end zone. Vanderdoes’ first score as a Bruin was set up by a near interception on a ball to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Devin Lucien. The Bruins found themselves on the 1-yard line when Lucien wound up with the tightly contested pass and got within spitting distance of the end zone on a 17-yard catch early in the second quarter.
USC would generate an 11-play, 80-yard drive to conclude scoring in the first half. The Trojans converted on a 3rd and 2 on their own 45-yard line to pave the way for an 11-yard Javorius Allen touchdown run, which saw the running back go untouched into the end zone, beating senior linebacker Jordan Zumwalt to the left on the outside. UCLA redshirt senior cornerback Brandon Sermons aided USC’s drive by picking up a 15-yard pass interference penalty while trying to play the ball in the air on a deep shot left by Kessler.
UCLA denied itself a decent shot at a field goal, when it ran Jack on 4th and 1 on the USC 12-yard line. USC bottled up the middle, stopping Jack in the backfield for a 1-yard loss with less than three minutes left in the first half. Following the stop, neither team would convert a first down heading into the tunnels.
Each team lost a starting lineman in the first half, as USC saw center Marcus Martin leave on the injury cart at the end of its first drive. UCLA’s defensive line generated a notable amount of pressure in the first half, getting two sacks from senior defensive end Cassius Marsh and a sack-forced fumble from freshman defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Compiled by Emilio Ronquillo, Bruin Sports senior staff.