USC GAME PERORT

1st QUARTER

California: 7

USC: 6

THE SCORING: California 7, USC 0: Pipersburg, 44-yard pass from Boller. 80-yard drive, four plays. PAT-Jensen (kick).

California 7, USC 6: Pierson, 19-yard pass from Palmer. 82-yard drive, nine plays. PAT-Wall (kick blocked).

TURNING POINT: The defensive line pressured Boller after the Trojan touchdown. Sultan-Abdul Malik forced Kyle Boller to throw the ball to the sidelines on third and three and Cal punted. The Bears’ next drive ended in a sack for a loss of nine yards by Lonnie Ford, then Ennis Davis stopped Joe Igber on third down on Cal’s final drive as the Bears went three and out.

NOT IN THE SUMMARY: It took only one play for USC to get a penalty. On the first play of the game, USC was assessed a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty, and the Trojans didn’t stop there, racking up a season-high 11 penalties for 101 yards. David Bell attempted his first field goal of the season and it was the second of two Trojan field-goal kicks blocked by James Smith.

STAT WATCH: USC outgained Cal, 156-80, in total yardage and had eight first downs to the Bears’ four. USC also outgained Cal, 94-22, in rushing yards. Sultan McCullough was the Trojans’ leading rusher with 56 yards in three carries ( an average of 19.7 yards a carry).

2nd QUARTER

USC: 16

California: 14

THE SCORING: California 14, USC 6: Echema, 1-yard run at 11:35. seven-yard drive, two plays, after fumble recovery at the USC 11. PAT-Jensen (kick).

California 14, USC 13: McCullough, 32-yard run at 2:11. 89-yard drive, seven plays. PAT-Wall (kick).

USC 16, California 14: Wall, 25-yard field goal at :32. 21-yard drive, nine plays.

TURNING POINT: Each team fumbled but only Cal was able to take advantage and score a touchdown. USC could have scored back-to-back touchdowns after Frank Strong forced a fumble on the punt return and Sandy Fletcher recovered. However, USC ended up with only a field goal, even after the Bears had given the Trojans a first down at the Cal seven because of a holding penalty. Palmer then threw three incomplete passes into the end zone, two to Steve Stevenson.

NOT IN THE SUMMARY: Two of USC’s four drives ended with a sack of Palmer. By the end of the half, Palmer had been sacked five times for minus-41 yards. But Cal Coach Tom Holmoe said the Trojans were controlling the ball in the first half and “it was a little scary.” The Trojans held the ball for 19:13 to Cal’s 10:47 in the first half and converted five of 10 third-down plays, three of six in the second quarter.

STAT WATCH: McCullough added 39 yards in four carries and Petros Papadakis had 12 yard in four carries. Kareem Kelly had only one reception for 17 yards.

3rd QUARTER

California 22

USC 16

THE SCORING: California 22, USC 16: Swafford, 12-yard pass from Boller at :19. 30-yard drive, four plays. Two point conversion--McArthur pass from Boller.

TURNING POINT: The first five drives ended with punts, then Cal scored. The Bears took only four plays, including a two-point conversion, to go up by six points. Boller’s 19-yard pass to Pipersburg for 19 yards on third and 11 from the USC 31 was a key play.

NOT IN THE SUMMARY: USC was lucky that on its third drive, Vandermade recovered McCullough’s fumble at the USC 24.

STAT WATCH: McCullough had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season, but in the third quarter he had six carries for zero yards. He is the first Trojan to have consecutive 100-yard rushing games since Delon Washington in 1995. Palmer completed five of nine passes for 44 yards. Kelly was held without a reception by the worst pass defense in the Pac-10.

4th QUARTER

California 28

USC 16

THE SCORING: California 28, USC 16: Powell, 83-yard punt return at 12:05. Two-point conversion failed.

TURNING POINT: On their first drive the Trojans had four penalties for 20 yards, including back-to-back penalties to start the drive. They punted after five plays and Powell returned the kick 83 yards for a touchdown. Both coaches said that was what “broke the Trojans’ backs.” With 12:05 left, USC still had time for a comeback, but the Trojan offense self-destructed. USC’s next two drives started with interceptions, but Cal did not take advantage.

NOT IN THE SUMMARY: USC Coach Paul Hackett admitted making a mistake by not sending out the punt team fast enough when the Trojans were called for illegal substitution. It took almost three minutes off the clock, and Hackett said we were “outmaneuvered.”

STAT WATCH: Powell’s 83-yard punt return is the longest in Cal history. His 138 total punt return yards is a Cal single-game record. It is also the first punt return for a touchdown against USC since 1997. USC has had three punts blocked this season. The Trojans lead the Pac-10 with 13 interceptions.