Trojans Qualify for Bowl

PALO ALTO — USC overcame a wave of injuries, its own mistakes, and, along the way, the best and worst efforts of Stanford on Saturday.

With a daunting defensive attack, the Trojans overpowered the Cardinal, 34-9, before an announced crowd of 43,250 at Stanford Stadium--a victory that qualifies USC for bowl participation.

Despite losing receiver R. Jay Soward to a sprained ankle on the first drive of the game, and committing a trundle full of penalties, the Trojans pulled away, scoring the game’s final 20 points after wrecking the Stanford offensive game plan.

This was about the big-play USC defense, which forced four Stanford turnovers: three fumbles and an interception, leading to four USC scores.

Defensive lineman Aaron Williams forced a fumble, recovered two, and ran one of the recoveries back 18 yards for USC’s third score of the game.