UCLA stakes claim with second consecutive win over USC

Few USC games start without mascot Tommy Trojan’s proverbial boast of conquest – piercing midfield logos with his sword. Unlike any UCLA-USC meeting over the last 16 years, Saturday night’s installment in the Los Angeles football rivalry saw the Bruins stake their own claim to Trojan territory.

Just minutes after the Bruins’ 35-14 road win, a few UCLA players, including redshirt junior outside linebacker Aramide Olaniyan, ran over to the ‘SC insignia on the 50-yard line to showboat by waving flags and jabbing the field with flagpoles.

What started out as a couple of Bruins turned into a congregation of dozens. Some sitting and lying, others standing, UCLA players all smiled for photographers and cameramen while celebrating the program’s first set of consecutive victories over USC since 1998.

A stunned Trojans home crowd appeared to agree with the Bruins as to which program currently provides the face of football in the City of Angels.

“To walk out of here, see all the fans leaving … it (was) so quiet at the end of the game, (and to) celebrate on this field … it was awesome,” said senior defensive end Cassius Marsh, who had never before beaten USC on the road.

UCLA’s defense made the USC backfield its frequent home long before UCLA flags waved in the night air. The Bruins sacked Cody Kessler six times and hit the Trojans’ quarterback on numerous other occasions as part of a performance that saw UCLA allow its third-lowest point total all season and its best mark against a winning team.

Like in last year’s 38-28 Rose Bowl win, senior outside linebacker Anthony Barr essentially delivered the coup de grâce to any USC comeback efforts. With less than six left in the game and the Trojans down 28-14, Barr slide off of the edge for a strip-sack of Kessler. Marsh pounced on the loose ball to give UCLA possession on USC’s 38-yard line. Four plays later, an 8-yard run by redshirt freshman running back Paul Perkins paved the way for the final score of 35-14, a UCLA romp.

Barr and Marsh racked up two sacks apiece, with the latter earning his two on consecutive plays in a first quarter where the Trojans gained just 50 of their 314 total yards. According to Marsh, his first sack resulted from his quickness off of the left side of the line of scrimmage. His next hit on Kessler came from the right, a product of tight coverage in the secondary, Marsh said.

In a defensive backfield that surrendered a 22-yard touchdown as its longest gain of the night, sophomore Randall Goforth saw a majority of his snaps at nickel cornerback. Goforth, usually a safety, filled in for an injured Fabian Moreau. Goforth said that the rivalry game brought a heightened sense of focus to practice all week long. Execution rewarded preparation against a Trojans team Goforth holds in high regard.

“That’s a great offense over there. … I commend guys like Anthony Barr and a lot of our playmakers on defense (that) stepped up tonight,” Goforth said.

Outside of two 80-yard touchdown drives, the Bruins limited the Trojans to a single possession over 30 yards. USC traveled 55 yards on that drive, which ended on a broken play in which Kessler scrambled left and threw a short ball to Javorius Allen. The running back gained 8-yards total before losing control of the pigskin on a fumble: Freshman outside linebacker Myles Jack received credit for the turnover.

The Bruins did cede some room on the ground to Allen. USC’s top running back shrugged and bounced off numerous tackle attempts en route to 123 rushing yards, including a 33-yard scamper that saw him break an Eric Kendricks tackle in the middle before running down the right sideline. According to Barr, though, he and other UCLA defenders hindered USC by forcing the Trojans into more throwing situations than they typically find themselves in.

USC played much of the game without a complete starting offensive line: The medical cart carried center Marcus Martin and right guard Aundrey Walker off the field early in each half. Bruins defensive coordinator Lou Spanos said the Trojans’ injury situation did nothing to alter his schemes on a night that saw his fronts apply consistent pressure to USC’s offense.

For Barr, the blowout win breaks new ground. UCLA usually adheres to the 24-hour rule, a principle preached within the team that only allows for players to think about a game for one day after its completion. This victory owns a special place in the outside linebacker’s mind, and he will hold onto his feelings about the win just a bit longer than he’s used to.

“I’m changing that to 72,” Barr said. “We’ve got 72 hours for this one.”