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USC Trojans @ UCLA Bruins Football Recap

USC 28, UCLA 14

This was the de facto bowl game for both USC and UCLA.

With the Trojans serving their first year of a postseason bowl ban and UCLA falling short of eligibility requirements, Saturday’s rivalry game served as the season ender for both teams. But it looked more like an early season matchup.

Both teams struggled to find consistency, but USC prevailed, 28-14, at the Rose Bowl to close out the 2010 college football season.

USC running back Allen Bradford made the most of his final collegiate game with 212 rushing yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns. The fifth-year senior caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Matt Barkley early in the quarter. He also broke away for a 73-yard score to firmly entrench the win for USC.

Matt Barkley returned from an ankle injury after missing the two previous games but was shaky throughout the night. He finished with 198 yards on 15-0f-26 passing with one touchdown and two interceptions.

UCLA’s loss continued the season-long spiral downward for the program. The Bruins have dropped 11 of the last 12 meetings between USC and UCLA and haven’t won under Neuheisel.

Neuheisel plans to review both his staff and the Pistol offense during the offseason. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow and defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough could be Neuheisel’s fall men if he chooses to make adjustments.

USC struck first on Saturday with a 5-yard touchdown pass from tailback Dillon Baxter to Rhett Ellison. But UCLA responded with a Johnathan Franklin 59-yard touchdown jaunt on just the second play of the ensuing drive.

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UCLA looked as though it had it chance to get the edge on USC late in the second quarter when it was in USC territory. But Malcolm Smith scooped up a fumble by Franklin and returned the ball 68 yards for a touchdown.

The Bruins’ offense was lifeless for most of the second half. Richard Brehaut hit Joseph Fauria for a 10-yard touchdown strike, but the Bruins still found themselves down 14 points with only 23 seconds left.

The win helped usher USC into a critical offseason on a positive note. With scholarship reductions looming, the Trojans are looking to bring in as many early enrollees in recruiting as possible.

USC also has to replace several key seniors, including Smith, Shareece Wright, Stanley Havili, and Kristofer O’Dowd, among others. Tyron Smith and Jurrell Casey may also be candidates to leave early for the NFL Draft.

By Mike Schwartz
DFN Sports Staff Writer