USC rallies to defeat Stanford, 13-10

USC faced an uphill battle Saturday, opening Pac-12 Conference play at Stanford, which was owner of a 17-game home-field winning streak.

The streak was the longest in the nation. Past tense.

Andre Heidari kicked a career-long 53-yard field goal with less than three minutes to play and USC’s defense fell on a last-minute Stanford fumble as the Trojans came away with a 13-10 victory.

It was Heidari’s second game-winning kick against the Cardinal in the last two seasons.

USC’s last five games against Stanford have been decided by seven points or less.

“It just always seems to come down to the last series of the game and our guys did just a great job of executing,” USC Coach Steve Sarkisian said during a televised postgame interview.

Stanford had dominated the recent series, winning five of the last seven meetings before Saturday.

The Trojans started fast, scoring on a 65-yard opening drive, capped by Justin Davis rushing for a one-yard touchdown.

Stanford’s offense answered in the second quarter when Patrick Skov scored on a two-yard run.

The Cardinal later kicked a 33-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead into halftime.

For most of the game, USC’s up-tempo offense was unable to find a rhythm beyond the running of tailback Javorius “Buck” Allen, who finished with a career-high 154 yards rushing in 23 carries.

A 25-yard field goal by Heidari in the final minute of the third quarter pulled USC into a 10-10 tie.

Drama familiar with the series found its way in late into the third quarter, when USC Coach Steve Sarkisian drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the sideline for arguing with officials.

USC Athletic Director Pat Haden was summoned from the press box to the sideline to seek answers about the call.

On the next play, USC linebacker Hayes Pullard, a team captain, was ejected for a personal foul on a targeting penalty for a late hit on a Stanford receiver near the sideline.

But USC’s defense was able to hold on, even without Pullard, and with star lineman Leonard Williams playing on an injured ankle.

After Heidari’s second field goal of the game put USC in the lead, Stanford was driving when outside linebacker J.R. Tavai sacked Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan, forcing a fumble that was recovered by USC’s Scott Felix.

USC then ran out the clock.

“Unbelievable defense by both teams,” Sarkisian said. “I can’t say enough about our guys. Just bend but don’t break in the red zone.”

USC quarterback Cody Kessler completed 15 of 22 passes for 135 yards. “It was hands down the toughest game I’ve been in in college,” he said. “My hat’s off to Stanford.”

USC improves to 2-0 on the season, 1-0 in the Pac-12 Conference. Stanford is 1-1, 0-1.

Here’s a running description of the game action:

USC 13, Stanford 10 (Final)

USC’s defensive line comes up huge when they need to most. With under a minute to play, J.R. Tavai hits quarterback Kevin Hogan to force a fumble and linebacker Michael Hutchings dives on the ball.

The clocks ticking down, and USC will leave the farm victorious on a crazy Saturday afternoon.

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USC 13, Stanford 10 (2:30 left in the fourth quater)

USC’s offense might have caught its biggest break of the game from Stanford’s defense, who left receiver Nelson Agholor open.

Quarterback Cody Kessler found Agholor for a 29-yard completion.

But two handoffs to tailback Justin Davis go nowhere, and the Trojans face another third and six. Sarkisian opts to handoff to Davis again, who is taken down in the backfield.

USC’s sideline is fired up, yelling for their coach to go for it on fourth and five.

Sarkisian sends out the field-goal unit, and kicker Andre Heidari nails a 53-yard field goal, to give USC a 13-10 lead.

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Uncharacteristic mistakes from Coach David Shaw’s Stanford team continue to save USC in this game.

A couple of missed field goals, and now another penalty calls back a wide-open Stanford touchdown.

Stanford has eight penalties for 68 yards. USC has 10 penalties for 87 yards.

The Cardinal are forced to punt.

This is shaping up for a wild finish on The Farm.

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USC Athletic Director Pat Haden on the sideline gives an in-game interview to ESPN’s Heather Cox, who asked why he ran down to the sideline.

Haden’s response: “I got a text just to come down because Sark wanted to talk to me, he felt the penalty was unfair and the referee explained he had warned him, so that’s why he got the penalty. It’s been a really frustrating quarter with the penalties, believe me.”

Asked if he was happy with the response from the officials, Haden said: “Most athletic directors and coaches are never happy with the explanations they get, but we got an answer and we have to move on and have a good fourth quarter.”

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The Trojans are trying to hit the gas, but keep coming up short.

Quarterback Cody Kessler completes a quick 15-yard pass to Nelson Agholor.

But the offense continues to stall on third down.

Interesting decision by Coach Steve Sarkisian, who makes the call to go for it on fourth and five.

Kessler, under pressure, throws short of Agholor.

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USC Athletic Director Pat Haden left the press box to get in on the argument on the sideline between Coach Steve Sarkisian and the officlals.

Haden looks like he has Sarkisian’s back, as the argument continued.

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USC 10, Stanford 10 (End of the third quarter)

Last week, it was dizzying to keep up with 105 plays.

Today, it’s dizzying to keep up with USC’s nine penalties and the turn of events to end the third quarter.

To recap: Coach Steve Sarkisian picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Linebacker Hayes Pullard was called for a late targeting hit out of bounds, and was ejected from the game. Next play, USC recovered a Stanford fumble and they’re now march down the field.

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The penalties keep piling up for USC.

Even Coach Steve Sarkisian is in on the action, picking up a sideline penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct as he screams at the referees.

USC is losing its composure, quickly, in Palo Alto. Team-captain Hayes Pullard is disqualified from the game after a targeting penalty. This is a major blow to the defense. Pullard will be replaced by sophomore Michael Hutchings.

The next play, USC is able to recover a Stanford fumble.

This is getting wild.

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USC 10, Stanford 10 (53 seconds left in the third quarter)

The USC defense provided some energy on the sideline with their red zone stop and it’s carried over to the offense.

Quarterback Cody Kessler finds a rhythm completing passes to Nelson Agholor and George Farmer before handing off to Javorius ‘Buck’ Allen, who broke for a 50-yard run.

Now it’s USC Coach Steve Sarkisian with a fourth and one decision. Sarkisian is playing it safe, sending kicker Andre Heidari out for a field goal.

Heidari drills the 25-yard field goal.

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Stanford is able to convert on another crucial third-down conversion on a quarterback keeper.

USC’s defense looks sluggish to start the second half, which mirrors how the unit started the second half a week ago against Fresno State.

Defensive end Leonard Williams is still on the field for the Trojans, despite sitting most of the week with an injured ankle.

Now we’re starting to see quarterback Kevin Hogan utilize all of his offensive weapons, both on the ground and through the air.

Stanford Coach David Shaw is facing a fourth and one and the Cardinal will go for it.

Just as I say USC’s defense looks slow -- they make their biggest play of the day in the red zone, stopping Stanford short of the first down and two yards from the end zone.

Credit safety Su’a Cravens for making a big hit on the play.

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USC and Stanford trading three and outs, now. The Trojans are forced to punt again.

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A breakdown on USC’s special teams allows Ty Montgomery a 44-yard kickoff return.

USC’s defense is able to get a stop on third down.

Stanford misses its second field-goal attempt of the game, this time from 26 yards.

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USC starts the third quarter out of sync with a three and out. Quarterback Cody Kessler takes a hit on third down, with the offensive line struggling to hold its blocks.

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USC ran 105 plays in last week’s 52-13 victory over Fresno State.

But Coach Steve Sarkisian’s up-tempo offense has been held to 27 plays in three offensive possessions in the first half at Stanford.

“We have to convert on third down to extend our drives,” Sarkisian said during a televised halftime interview.

USC was five of seven on third-down conversions.

Stanford has more than doubled USC’s total yards of offense, the Cardinal with 230 yards to USC’s 91.

Both teams have piled up the penalties -- Stanford committed five for 42 yards, USC has seven for 53 yards.

Time for the second half.

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Stanford 10, USC 7 (Halftime)

Stanford is now running the two-minute drill to close out the first half.

The Cardinal commit consecutive penalties, which turns a third-and-one situation into third and five from the USC 11-yard line.

Safety Su’a Cravens nearly intercepts a pass by quarterback Kevin Hogan, who was eyeing the end zone.

Stanford kicks a 33-yard field goal.

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USC’s offense ran like a well-oiled machine its first series.

But now into the third series, the Trojans are stalling.

Quarterback Cody Kessler was called for intentional grounding, the next play, he was sacked.

Stanford’s defense forced USC into a third and long, and the Trojans are forced to punt for the second time today.

Kessler has completed seven of 10 passes for 37 yards.

Javorius ‘Buck’ Allen has rushed for 71 yards in 13 carries.

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USC 7, Stanford 7 (7:45 left in the second quarter)

Stanford Coach David Shaw is starting to let quarterback Kevin Hogan throw the football.

Hogan completes a 21-yard pass to Austin Hooper, who makes it to the USC 22-yard line.

USC makes a costly substitution penalty with Stanford in the red zone.

Cardinal left tackle Andrus Peat has to leave the game with blood on his jersey, but no problem for his team, as Patrick Skov rushes for a two-yard touchdown on third down.

The play was run behind freshman Casey Tucker, who replaced Peat. Tucker was once committed to USC.

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Freshman Adoree’ Jackson shows up on defense for the Trojans to stall Stanford on third down. Quarterback Kevin Hogan was going for the end zone, but Jackson won one-on-one coverage.

Keep an eye on Jackson, who Coach Steve Sarkisian said would get more looks on offense this week.

As fast as USC went on its first scoring drive, the Trojans quickly found their way to a three and out on their second possession.

USC is forced to punt.

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USC 7, Stanford 0 (end of the first quarter)

USC kicker Andre Heidari picks up a mindless personal foul after his kickoff, for a late hit after the whistle. Coach Steve Sarkisian gave him an earful. Heidari has become notorious for becoming a little too amped on game day.

So far, laundry all over the field from the Pac-12 officials as cornerback Chris Hawkins is called for holding.

There are seven penalties between the teams. USC has committed four for 34 yards.

What a catch by Stanford’s Michael Rector between Kevon Seymour and Gerald Bowman. Rector held on to the ball before falling out of bounds on third and 11. That’s a big play for the Cardinal to put them in the red zone.

Leonard Williams, what hurt ankle?! He nearly chases down Stanford tailback (defensive end running down a tailback!) Ty Montgomery who runs after a bad snap in the wildcat formation.

Stanford will face third and long to start the second quarter.

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USC 7, Stanford 0 (4:26 left in the first quarter)

Rough start for returner Javorius ‘Buck’ Allen, who fumbled the kick return, but the Trojans were able to recover.

Buckle up. Here goes USC’s up-tempo offense.

Allen is nailed at the line of scrimmage. Stanford is much more physical than last week’s Fresno State team.

USC Coach Steve Sarkisian is feeding Allen on this first drive.

Quarterback Cody Kessler is making third-down conversions look easy for the Trojans. He finds Justin Davis, who falls a yard short of the end zone.

Next play, Davis rushes for a one-yard touchdown.

That went fast. And it looked easy.

The scoring drive: 68 yards, 12 plays

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USC 0, Stanford 0 (8:56 left in the first quarter)

Stanford was able to convert on a third and short, operating out of the wildcat. USC’s defense is swarmed, but a generous spot allowed the Cardinal a first down.

USC Coach Steve Sarkisian said this week the play of defensive tackle Claude Pelon had room for improvement, and on the first series Pelon is already nailed with personal foul for grabbing a facemask.

Seven of the Cardinal’s first nine plays have been on the ground, and it’s looking successful.

But, three penalties for thirty yards in the first series for the Cardinal help stall the drive.

A monstrous hit by linebacker Hayes Pullard on second down, knocked the the ball loose and Stanford was forced to kick the field goal - and it was no good. USC’s Delvon Simmons got a nail on the ball.

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USC defensive end Leonard Williams will play on an ankle that is far less than 100% today. His backup, Greg Townsend Jr., did not make the trip to Stanford because of the chicken pox.

Here comes kick off.

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USC has 57 scholarship players on its trip to Stanford.

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USC announced starting lineups.

Here’s the Trojans’ offense: quarterback Cody Kessler, tailback Javorius ‘Buck’ Allen, fullback Soma Vainuku, tight end Randall Telfer, receivers JuJu Smith, Nelson Agholor and George Farmer. The offensive line -- left tackle Chad Wheeler, left guard Toa Lobendahn, center Max Tuerk, right guard Damien Mama and right tackle Zach Banner.

And the Trojans’ defense: defense end Leonard Williams, nose tackle Antwaun Woods, defensive tackle Claude Pelon, outside linebackers Scott Felix and J.R. Tavai, inside linebackers Anthony Sarao and Hayes Pullard, cornerbacks Chris Hawkins and Kevon Seymour, safeties Su’a Cravens, Leon McQuay and Gerald Bowman.