Interception keys Bruins’ 1954 title team

The USC vs. UCLA rivalry has produced many legendary players who are remembered for making great offensive plays -- from O.J. Simpson’s 64-yard touchdown run in 1967 to Gaston Green’s 224 yards and four rushing touchdowns in 1986 to Erik Affholter’s debated touchdown catch in 1987 -- in the series.

But the rivalry also has had more than its fair share of heroes on defense, starting with last year’s instant legend, UCLA’s Eric McNeal. This week, The Times will provide a look back at six memorable defensive plays made in the series:

UCLA’s Jim Decker

In 1954, UCLA was coached by Henry “Red” Sanders and finished the season with a 9-0 record. But the Bruins were prevented from playing in the Rose Bowl because of a conference “no-repeat” rule at the time that did not allow back-to-back appearances for a school in the Rose Bowl.

So Sanders treated UCLA’s final regular-season game against USC as the Bruins’ Rose Bowl.

A standing-room-only crowd of 102,548 packed the Coliseum on Nov. 20 and the Trojans, who needed a victory to gain the conference bid for the Rose Bowl, kept the game close.

UCLA led, 7-0, early in the third quarter but momentum was with USC. The Trojans had the ball deep in UCLA’s territory when Jim Decker, a first-year transfer from Santa Clara, made a defensive play that turned the game.

With USC’s Jim Contratto looking to complete a touchdown pass to tie the score, Decker came up with an interception to give the ball back to UCLA. The Bruins never looked back.

UCLA scored 27 points in the fourth quarter and won going away, 34-0, to gain a share of its first and only national championship.

Decker, a Nebraska native who left Santa Clara after the school dropped football in 1953, also started at wingback for UCLA and led the nation in yards per carry (10.3) in 1954.

As a senior, Decker -- who also lettered three years in baseball for the Bruins -- kicked the winning field goal with 17 seconds remaining against Washington that put UCLA in the 1956 Rose Bowl.

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lonnie.white@latimes.com