In a game that featured two of the country’s most
explosive offenses, USC junior Reggie Bush showed why he is
considered not only the best running back of Los Angeles, but in
all the college football world.
Bush ran for 260 yards and two touchdowns on just 24 carries as
top-ranked USC drubbed No. 11 UCLA, 66-19, in front of its home
crowd at the L.A. Coliseum on Saturday. The win not only marked the
seventh consecutive year that the Trojans have won the
“Battle for the Victory Bell”, but also clinched the
Pac-10 championship and likely assured themselves of a spot in the
BCS Championship game.
USC will be looking to win its third straight national
title.
The Trojans’ scoring output was the most by either program
in the history of the rivalry since 1929, when USC won 76-0. As the
thunder to Bush’s lightning, junior running back LenDale
White ran for 153 yards on 14 carries with a pair of
touchdowns.
As for UCLA (9-2), the elation of such a breakout season must
now seem a little bit hazy. The dominating performance of USC
(12-0), who amassed a mind boggling 425 rushing yards and 679 total
yards from scrimmage, leaves UCLA coach Karl Dorrell and his
coaching staff wondering why three weeks of preparation for the
rivalry game made little difference.
The Trojans won the coin flip, elected to receive the ball, and
that was the last time the game would ever be as close. Bush was
fed the ball early and often, and the Bruin defense – who came into
the game ranked last in the Pac-10 in rushing defense – was unable
to stop the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. Bush ran for all but 32 of
his yards in the first half, as the Trojans built an early 24-0
lead with 10:57 left in the second quarter.
UCLA tried to mount an improbable comeback, something that has
defined this year’s tenacious club, but senior quarterback
Drew Olson was unable to convert on key third downs deep in USC
territory and had to settle for a pair of 43-yard field goals by
junior place-kicker Justin Medlock.
In retrospect, the back breaker was the second of the two field
goals, coming off the heels of a fumbled snap recovered by senior
linebacker Justin London at midfield. Down by 24-3 in the middle of
the second quarter, the Bruins had an opportunity to march down a
short field and cut the lead to only two touchdowns. However, Olson
was sacked on third down and Medlock’s field goal made it
24-6.
USC got the ball back, and proceeded to drive 79 yards on 6
short plays, capped off by Bush’s second touchdown on the
afternoon. The Trojans went into halftime with a comfortable 31-6
lead, and were never challenged in the second half.
Olson finished the game with 143 yards and a touchdown, while
junior running back Maurice Drew had a relatively quiet 84 rushing
yards on 14 carries with a touchdown of his own.
UCLA must now try to pick up the pieces after a tough loss to
its bitter rival on national television. The Bruins will likely be
chosen to play in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas against
Northwestern or Minnesota. Dorrell will be trying to win his first
bowl game as a college coach and give the program its first 10-win
season since 1998.