USC Rallies to Beat Bears : Trojans: They force two late turnovers that Crayton turns into touchdowns for a 27-24 comeback victory. Wachholtz guides rally.

For 3 1/2 quarters Saturday at the Coliseum, it looked as if USC would not be able to overcome an injury to quarterback Rob Johnson, shanked kicks, the brilliance of California wide receiver Sean Dawkins or its own offensive inertia.

It looked as if the Trojans would have to wait at least another year to take their revenge on Cal, which embarrassed them last season, 52-30.

But then the Trojan defense saved the day.

Forcing two fumbles, it set up two touchdowns in the last 5:45 of an improbable 27-24 victory before 54,476.

“We kind of felt we had to take control of the game,” sophomore linebacker Brian Williams said. “We felt we had to do something--get turnovers, try to pick up the ball and run with it.

“Just do something to win the game.”

It was Williams who led the way.

With the Trojans trailing, 24-13, with 8:10 remaining, Johnson out of the game because of a neck sprain and backup quarterback Reggie Perry having been benched in favor of second-year freshman Kyle Wachholtz, Williams plugged a hole in the line and met Cal fullback Marty Holly head on.

“I saw the play (developing),” Williams said. “The tackle went down, (Holly) tried to cut it back and I just hit him.”

The ball popped loose, fell to the ground and was recovered by USC linebacker Jeff Kopp at Cal’s 32-yard line.

Wachholtz, who led a rally that fell short during a 17-10 loss to Washington on Oct. 3, got the Trojans into the end zone, completing a 13-yard pass to Curtis Conway to set up a two-yard run by Estrus Crayton.

Crayton’s touchdown run with 5:45 left was only the second of the season on the ground for the Trojans, and the first by a tailback.

Wachholtz then passed to tight end Yonnie Jackson in the end zone for a two-point conversion that cut USC’s deficit to 24-21.

Two plays later, Cal quarterback Dave Barr, who threw three touchdown passes to Dawkins, was hit from behind and spun around by defensive tackle David Webb as he dropped back to pass.

“I slapped at his elbow,” Webb said.

Again, the ball popped loose.

This time, it was picked out of the air by linebacker Donn Cunnigan, who might have hit Barr if Webb hadn’t got there first.

Instead of a sack, Cunnigan had a fumble recovery.

He returned the ball three yards to Cal’s 14-yard line, setting up another touchdown run by Crayton, who scored on a one-yard dive after Wachholtz put the Trojans in position with a six-yard pass to Travis Hannah.

Cal’s next play also resulted in a turnover--the fourth in five fourth-quarter possessions by the Bears--when Barr’s pass slipped through Dawkins’ hands and was intercepted by Williams.

The Trojans had their revenge and a 3-1-1 record, equaling their victory output of last season. They are 2-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference. Cal is 3-3, 1-2 in the Pac-10.

“I’m going to take (the blame for) this one,” said first-year Coach Keith Gilbertson, who second-guessed himself for not being more conservative in his play-calling when the Bears were trying to protect their lead. “I screwed this game up for this football team.

“As hard as we played, it was a damn shame.”

Said USC Coach Larry Smith: “We had a lot of things go against us--at times, we didn’t play well--but the bottom line is, we found a way to win.”

USC, last in the Pac-10 in rushing, had only 79 yards in 44 attempts and was outgained by Cal, 285 yards to 273.

The Trojans fell behind, 10-0, during the second quarter when Dawkins scored his first touchdown, leaping to take a 12-yard pass from Barr in the left corner of the end zone and landing with his left foot inbounds.

USC rallied to take a 13-10 lead, scoring on an eight-yard pass from Johnson to tight end Bradford Banta with 12:54 to play in the third quarter.

Cal answered with a 78-yard drive that featured a 40-yard run by Greg Zomalt and was capped by another touchdown pass from Barr to Dawkins. Dawkins again beat Oliver, the 6-foot-4 receiver taking inside position on the 5-8 cornerback before connecting with Barr on a 20-yard play.

Then, after USC’s John Stonehouse shanked a punt that wobbled out of bounds at the Trojans’ 29-yard line, Barr and Dawkins connected again, this time on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Dawkins made another spectacular catch, this one behind cornerback Jerald Henry.

Trailing 24-13, USC drove to Cal’s seven-yard line in its next possession before Johnson stumbled and fell head first into offensive guard Robert Loya.

Johnson, his neck sprained, was replaced by Perry, who overthrew fullback Wes Bender in the end zone on fourth down.

It looked bleak for the Trojans, but they rallied behind Wachholtz.

“You’ve got to make it happen,” Smith said. “That’s what our guys did. They just, plain and simple, made it happen.”