Killeen Sweep for the Trojans

Through tough times, a season in which kicker Ryan Killeen has suffered too many wide lefts and wide rights, his buddies on the USC football team have known just what to say.

“I cuss him out every time he misses,” defensive lineman Shaun Cody said. “But I also give him a hug when he makes them.”

This policy turned Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl into something of a lovefest as Killeen saved his best for last.

His five field goals without a miss meant the difference in a surprisingly tough 29-24 victory over rival UCLA and helped No. 1 USC finish the regular season with a 12-0 record.

“God, what a game,” Killeen said. “I’ll take the rest of the season for this game.”

Coming into the fall, the senior was a three-year starter and mentioned among preseason candidates for the Lou Groza Award, given to college football’s best kicker.

But through the first 10 games -- despite a strong performance against California -- he had made only seven of 16 attempts.

“It wasn’t like he went in the tank,” said punter Tom Malone, his holder. “He was hitting the ball well, but he’d be off a foot or two.”

Killeen says he felt as if he was rushing his kicks, worrying about too many things. The team responded in two ways.

The offense began eschewing field-goal attempts, going for it on fourth down deep in the opponent’s territory. Then, late in the season, the coaches mentioned opening up the kicker’s job and forcing Killeen to compete with freshman Mario Danelo.

Kickers are accustomed to being singled out. Killeen said: “I don’t take anything personal.”

He held onto his spot and, as special teams assistant Dennis Slutak said, “He really found a sense of relaxation.”

Malone and Killeen stuck with a routine that involved the holder giving his kicker a quick pep talk, something along the lines of: “Keep your head down. It’s an easy kick. Just stroke it.”

“I tell him before every kick,” Malone said. “He doesn’t really listen to me.”

But Killeen showed signs of improvement, taking a deep breath before each attempt, seeming more certain in his approach to the ball.

“He earned back the respect and confidence of the coaches,” Slutak said.

The turnaround came last week against Notre Dame, when Killeen went two for two and, afterward, thanked his teammates for standing by him.

That performance generated some momentum for UCLA, and it occurred to Killeen that in two previous seasons, he was three for three against the Bruins.

Make that eight for eight.

None of Saturday’s field goals were spectacular, just a steady stream in the 30- to 40-yard range. But when the final attempt sailed 34 yards through the uprights with 3:49 remaining, Killeen had broken a school record held by three others.

Afterward, as the Trojans celebrated on the field, there were hugs from teammates and coaches and alumni wanting to shake his hand.

The kicker even got called before the microphones to speak to a clutch of reporters. More waited by his locker.

Asked about his best game ever, he answered without hesitation. “This is it,” he said. “UCLA. A close game. It’s a memory I’ll have for a long time.”