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No. 13 USC holds on for 28-27 victory over Utah

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No. 13 USC edges Utah 28-27 after Darnold struggles early

USC overcame a few early miscues from Sam Darnold which turned into a 21-7 halftime lead for Utah.

The Trojans locked down the Utes defensively in the second half, holding them scoreless until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

But Utah didn’t go quietly. Facing a fourth and one with less than two minutes left in the game, quarterback Troy Williams connected with Siale Fakailoatonga for a 37-yard reception.

He then scored on a one-yard dive to make the 28-27 in favor of the Trojans.

Utah would go for the win. It wouldn’t. Williams spied the right-corner of the goalline and kept the ball and took off, but was taken down short of the end zone.

USC (6-1, 5-1 in the Pac-12) held on for another victory at the Coliseum as Darnold passed for two touchdowns and running back Ronald Jones II broke the 100-yard mark with an 11-yard flip into the end zone that ultimately ensured a USC victory over Utah (4-2, 2-2).

Darnold finished 27-of-50 passing for 358 yards with three touchdowns and had 15 yards rushing, including a critical 14-yard pickup on third and 10 that led to USC’s go-ahead touchdown. But he put his team in a hole early with three fumbles in the first half.

Williams finished 16-of-27 passing for 262 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Utah’s Zach Moss led all rushers with 141 yards in 20 carries. Jones finished with 111 in 17 with a touchdown.

Cameron Smith had USC’s lone interception of Williams.

USC faces No. 16 Notre Dame next week in South Bend. Utah will host Arizona State next.

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USC gets the ball moving on the ground, takes late lead over Utah

With the game knotted up at 21 apiece, Utah needed a long, sustained scoring drive. What they got was a seven play drive that managed just 12 yards.

USC quarterback Sam Darnold has had himself a night with three touchdown passes. After two incompletions to begin the Trojans’ drive from the seven-yardline, Darnold then tucked the ball and ran 14 yards to keep the offense on the field.

Ronald Jones II broke off a 15-yard run followed by a seven yarder. Then Vavae Malepeai carried the ball 26 yards and nine yards to push the Trojans into the red zone.

Jones then put USC ahead of Utah late in the fourth quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run capped off with a flip into the end zone.

USC 28, Utah 21

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USC ties it up with another long touchdown drive

A poor kickoff by Chase McGrath went just 49 yards and put the Utes at their own 35-yardline to start their drive.

Running back Zack Moss continued to punish the Trojans picking up 11 yards on his first carry, two on his next. Still, Utah couldn’t get anything else going and punted the ball away.

Moss now has 136 yards rushing in 17 carries.

On USC’s next possession Sam Darnold picked up a single yard on a carry then missed his receivers on his next two throws. A forgettable three-and-out. But USC got the ball back quickly, forcing Utah to go three-and-out.

The Trojans then activated running back Ronald Jones II with back-to-back-to-back carries of 16, 15 and five yards to move USC to midfield. Deontay Burnett moved the chains with a pair of catches for four and seven yards before converting a third and 10 with a 16-yard reception.

Darnold went to the air again, this time connecting with Steven Mitchell Jr. for a 21-yard gain from the 25-yardline. Jones got the Trojans three yards closer and then Josh Falo finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown catch.

The game is now tied with 13 minutes 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

USC 21, Utah 21

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USC burns two timeouts, but comes up with a touchdown to cut into Utah’s lead

USC kicked off to Utah to begin the second half.

The Utes then picked up a first down on a big 29-yard reception by Bryan Thompson to get things going. RUnning back Zack Moss then pounded through a USC tackle for a 16 yard gain before the Trojans ultimately forced the Utes to punt the ball.

USC quarterback Sam Darnold began the Trojans’ first drive of the second half from the two-yardline. Tyler Vaughns delivered USC a first down on a 12-yard catch.

On third and five, Darnold hit Steven Mitchell Jr. with an eight yard pass to pick up the first. Three plays later, USC was facing the same down and distance, only this time Deontay Burnett gave the Trojans a 23-yard gain.

Vaughns caught another ball over the middle and put a little spin move on a defender and ended up with a 17-yard gain into Utah territory. After an incompletion, USC then used its first timeout of the second half. Coming out of the timeout Darnold’s pass fell incomplete.

A quarterback option with an ill-advised toss to Ronald Jones II picked up just one yard on third and 10. USC went for it on fourth down and Vaughns gave the Trojans a first down in the red zone with a 10-yard reception.

USC had to burn its second timeout to stave off a delay of game penalty, but coming out of the break Darnold scrambled left, then cut back to the middle and flung the ball into the waiting hands of Tyler Petite for a 17-yard touchdown reception.

In all, the USC drive went 98 yards in 16 plays and lasted 5 minutes 49 seconds. There is 5 minutes 56 seconds left in the third quarter.

Utah 21, USC 14

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USC trails Utah 21-7 at halftime and the crowd isn’t happy

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Utah capitalizes on USC penalties to take a 21-7 lead

USC ruined a third-down stop and paid the price with a 33-yard pass to Demari Simpkins for another Utah touchdown.

The previous possession, a promising USC drive had ended on another Sam Darnold fumble, his third — but this one wasn’t his fault. Ronald Jones II dropped a swing pass that hit his facemask, and not realizing it was a backward pass, he didn’t jump on the ball.

After Utah took over, USC had appeared to force a punt, but linebacker Uchenna Nwosu jumped offsides, giving Utah a first down.

Later in the drive, Troy Williams found Simpkins on a long pass down the sideline over Ajene Harris. Utah leads 21-7 with 4:49 left in the half.

Utah 21, USC 7

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Utah regains the lead with a trick-play touchdown

Utah used some trickery to retake the lead.

From the five-yard line, Troy Williams handed the ball off to Demari Simpkins running toward the right. Simpkins then pulled up and threw back to Williams running off the left side for a touchdown.

Utah gashed USC on the ground during the drive, running for 50 yards on just three rushes.

Utah 14, USC 7

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USC answers quick to tie the score at seven

USC needed four plays to answer Utah’s first score.

After a 21-yard completion up the middle to Deontay Burnett, quarterback Sam Darnold found a wide-open Tyler Petite over the top for a 52-yard touchdown pass.

The score is tied at seven with 4:47 remaining in the first quarter.

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Utah returns a Darnold fumble and leads 7-0

Utah scooped a Sam Darnold fumble and ran untouched into the end zone for the game’s first score.

Darnold kept a zone read with multiple play fakes and never tucked the ball securely into his left arm. Kavika Luafatasaga knocked the ball loose on the tackle, the ball popped into the air and Marquise Blair returned it 18 yards for the easy score. Utah leads, 7-0 with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter.

It’s Darnold’s second fumble of the game. In his first career start last year, he fumbled twice against Utah.

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USC will start with the ball

USC won the coin toss and will defer to the second half. The Trojans will start with the ball momentarily.

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Utah looks like it’ll start Troy Williams, with Tyler Huntley out

There’s about 45 minutes to kickoff, and Utah’s starting quarterback Tyler Huntley is not participating in warmups. That means Utah will likely start Troy Williams for a second week in a row. Huntley has missed time with a shoulder injury.

The last time USC saw Williams, last season, he had the best game of his career. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown, and he rushed for another score. He also led Utah on a 93-yard game-winning drive with seconds left.

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USC has a shot at redemption and more

Utah tight end Evan Moeai is tackled by USC linebacker Michael Hutchings in the first half last season.
(Rick Bowmer / Associated Press)

USC’s players do not talk much after a loss. The locker room is silent. If the team is on the road, no one says a word on the charter plane back home.

The last time USC played Utah, USC’s opponent Saturday in a key midseason Pac-12 Conference South division game, one person broke the silence in the postgame locker room.

“Everybody’s crying and stuff,” tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe recalled. “And I just remember looking at him and saw that he was just solid. He was just like, ‘Guys, we’re gonna be fine.’ ”

Imatorbhebhe was talking about quarterback Sam Darnold. In a miserable, dramatic loss that dropped USC’s record to 1-3, the Trojans somehow had reason for hope. When the Trojans had no cause for optimism, Darnold washed them in confidence.

Imatorbhebhe remembers thinking in the locker room, “If he’s confident, then shoot … ”

The loss ultimately kept USC from the Pac-12 championship game, and it ended a slim shot at a spot in the College Football Playoff. It also marked a turning point. USC won its remaining nine games, including the Rose Bowl.

A year later, No. 13 USC (5-1, 3-1 in the Pac-12) enters its game against Utah (4-1, 1-1) in a different position. Its Pac-12 hopes and likely its playoff aspirations are in much better shape.

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Taking a look at how the Trojand and Utes match up

USC running back Ronald Jones II, left, runs through Oregon State linebacker Kee Whetzel with Trojans tight end Tyler Petite blocking on Oct. 7.
(Alex Gallardo / Associated Press)

No. 13 USC (5-1, 3-1 in Pac-12) vs. Utah (4-1, 1-1)

Saturday, 5 p.m., Coliseum. TV: ABC. Radio: 710.

Marquee matchup

Ronald Jones II vs. Utah defensive line: Jones, when healthy, is one of the nation’s best backs. He averages 6.2 yards per rush and has scored in 12 consecutive games. He has been battling thigh and ankle injuries and was limited to just 12 carries against Oregon State a week ago. Utah ranks 20th nationally in rushing defense, giving up an average of 108.8 yards per game. All four Utah defensive linemen weigh more than 300 pounds. The Utes “basically took defensive tackles and went straight across in a four-down scheme,” USC coach Clay Helton said. Lowell Lotulelei has been named to the All-Pac-12 team three times.

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