Defensive backs don’t last long — not in major college football, not in any kind of football — unless they have exceedingly short memories.
So Leon McQuay III could not spend more than a moment or two kicking himself over the nearly certain interception he had just let slip through his hands.
With 38 seconds remaining in the 2017 Rose Bowl, his USC team tied with Penn State, the strong safety had to fix his attention on the next play.
Lining up in a cover-2 defense, McQuay saw the cornerback on his side of the field jump the receiver’s route, so he moved to provide coverage over the top. As the pass sailed toward the sideline, he tried to break at just the right angle.
“Next-play mentality,” he said. “I just wanted to make the play.”
There would be no second drop for McQuay, whose last-minute interception and return set up the Trojans’ game-winning field goal in an improbable 52-49 comeback victory on Monday.
Much of the postgame attention focused on quarterback Sam Darnold, who set a Rose Bowl record with five touchdown passes. And on Matt Boermeester, who provided the final three points from 46 yards out.
Certainly, no one on the USC defense could boast of a dominant performance after a game in which Penn State amassed 465 yards and seven touchdowns.
This was more a story of resilience, of surviving a nightmarish third quarter and finding some kind of resolve in the closing minutes.
“It was the scariest and the craziest,” nose tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu said. “We knew that time was coming down to the end and we just wanted to win.”
The game had started well enough for USC, with the Trojans intercepting the first two passes Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley threw and building a 27-21 halftime lead.
Then came their worst 15 minutes since, perhaps, the season opener against Alabama.
On Penn State’s first possession of the third quarter, running back Saquon Barkley headed right, broke a handful of tackles, then veered across the field and ran down the sideline for a 79-yard touchdown.
“I think he shredded everybody on our defense on that play,” safety Chris Hawkins said.
Barely a minute later, after a USC punt, McSorley lofted a pass down the sideline. The ball was tipped by Trojans cornerback Iman Marshall and corralled by Penn State receiver Chris Godwin, who sprinted 72 yards for another score.
A Darnold interception then led to a three-yard McSorley touchdown run.
“Coach [James] Franklin told me someone’s got to come up and make a play, and I kind of took that personally,” Barkley said. “From then on … we got it going.”
Just that quickly — three plays, three scores — the Nittany Lions had burst to a 42-27 lead.
Hawkins recalled thinking: Can we get a break?
It wasn’t luck or even a strategic adjustment that turned things around. It was a case of the Trojans settling down.
“Don’t try to do too much,” defensive end Rasheem Green said. “Just do your assignment.”
Barkley, who was on his way to 194 yards rushing, had darted for long gains by staying patient, waiting for holes to open when defenders over-pursued. The Trojans made sure to maintain their gaps and keep containment on the edges.
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USC Trojans guard Damien Mama celebrates the Trojans’ win over the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans defensive back Adoree’ Jackson celebrates after the Trojans’ beat the Penn State Nittany Lions.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 3/61
USC head coach Clay Helton holds aloft the Leishman Trophy after the Trojans beat Penn State 52-49 in the Rose Bowl.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 4/61
USC kicker Matt Boermeester, 39, celebrates with holder Wyatt Schmidt after making a game-winning 46-yard field goal as time expired to beat Penn State 52-49 in the Rose Bowl Game. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC placekicker Matt Boermeester, 39, celebrates with teammates after making a game-winning 46-yard field goal as time expired to beat Penn State 52-49. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans place kicker Matt Boermeester celebrates with teammates after kicking the game winning field goal/ (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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USC’s kicker Matt Boermeester kick the winning field goal against Penn State.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 8/61
Penn State’s Jordan Smith is called for pass interference on USC receiver Deontay Burnett late in the 4th quarter/
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 9/61
USC quarterback Sam Darnold wiggles away from Penn State linebacker Jason Kabinda during fourth quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10/61
USC defensive back Leon McQuay steps in front of Penn State receiver Chris Goodwin for an interception in the last minute of the game, setting up a winning drive.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 11/61
USC’s Leon McQuay intercepts the ball in front of Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin late in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 12/61
USC strong safety Leon McQuay ntercepts a pass intended for Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 13/61
USC strong safety Leon McQuay III returns an interception of a pass intended for Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin in the fourth quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC’s Deontay Burnett catches a touchdown pass late in the 4th quarter as Penn St.’s Marcus Allen looks on at the Rose Bowl Monday.
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USC receiver Deontay Burnett hauls in a touchdown pass over Penn State safety Marcus Allen for the game tying score late in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 16/61
USC wide receiver Deontay Burnett makes a touchdown catch against Penn State in the fourth quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC receiver Deontay Burnett, left, and quarterback Sam Darnold celebrate the game-tying touchdown against Penn St. late in the 4th qaurter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18/61
USC head coach Clay Helton cheers his team on against Penn State in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 19/61
The USC defense celebrates as Penn State’s running back Saquon Barkley is stopped on 3rd down late in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 20/61
USC Trojans tight end Taylor McNamara (48) is congratulated by Teammates after catching a two-point conversion from USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold in the second half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 21/61
USC wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster celebrates with teammates after making a touchdown catch against Penn State in the third quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times )
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USC Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster catches a touchdown pass from USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold in the third quarter/
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 23/61
Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin takes the ball away from USC defensive back Iman Marshall en route to a touchdown in the third quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 24/61
USC quarterback Sam Darnold throws downfield against Penn State in the third quarter of the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 2. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC receiver Adoree Jackson writhes in pain as he is tackled by Penn State cornerback Christian Campbell during fourth quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 26/61
Injured USC defensive back Adoree Jackson is helped off the firld in the third quarter as coach Clay Helton looks on.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 27/61
USC quarterback Sam Darnold loses control of the ball as he is sacked by Penn State defensive end Garrett Sickels during third quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 28/61
USC linebacker Uchenna Nwosu tries to fire up the crowd in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 29/61
USC running back Chris Hawkins scores a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, leading to a 49-49 tie with Penn State.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 30/61
USC’s Ronald Jones is lifted into the air after scoring a touchdown against Penn St. at the Rose Bowl Monday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 31/61
USC receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster hauls in a long pass over Penn State cornerback John Reid during a fourth quarter drive. The play was originally called incomplete, but replay showed Schuster made the catch in bounds.
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Penn State cornerback Christian Campbell breaks up a pass intended for USC wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster in the third quarter.
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Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin makes a catch in front of USC’s Leon McQuay in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 34/61
USC Trojans defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (96) tackles Penn State Nittany Lions running back Mark Allen (8) in the second half.
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Penn State safety Malik Golden upends USC receiver Adoree Jackson in the third quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36/61
USC’s Sam Darnold celebrates his touchdown throw to Deontay Burnett against Penn St. in the 2nd quarter.
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Penn St. tight end Mike Gesicki catches a touchdown pass in front of USC’s Adoree Jackson, left, and Leon McQuay in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 38/61
USC Trojans running back Justin Davis dives for a first down before being tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Brandon Bell in first half action.
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Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley scores a touchdown while pursued by USC Trojans linebacker Cameron Smith (35) in the first half.
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Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Mike Gesicki celebrates after catching a touchdown pass in the first half.
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Penn State receiver Chris Godwin flips out of the endzone after catching a touchdown pass over USC defensive back Adoree Jackson during second quarter action.
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USC receiver Darreus Rogers makes a diving catch in front of Penn State defensive back Grant Haley during a second quarter drive.
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USC quarterback Sam Darnold scrambles for big yards late in the 2nd quarter.
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USC’s Stevie Tu’ikolowafu grabs the face mask of Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley for a penalty during the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold eludes Penn State’s cornerback John Reid (29) in the first half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 46/61
Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin makes a diving catch in front of USC’s Adoree Jackson in the 2nd quarter.
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Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin makes a catch in front of USC’s Leon McQuay in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 48/61
USC quarterback Sam Darnold scrambles for big yards late in the 2nd quarter against Penn St.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 49/61
USC wide receiver Adoree Jackson makes his way inside the Penn State five-yard-line after a catch in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 50/61
Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin makes a one-handed catch against USC strong safety Leon McQuay in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 51/61
USC head coach Clay Helton reacts angrily after officials mistakenly nullified a touchdopwn catch by Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 52/61
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley eludes the tackle of USC end Porter Gustin in first quarter. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold throws a touchdown pass to USC Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 54/61
USC receiver Darreus Rogers catches a touchdown pass in front of Penn St.’s Grant Haley in the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 55/61
USC defensive back Adoree Jackson celebrates with teammate Iman Marshall after intercepting a Penn State pass in the first quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 56/61
The Nittany Lion waits the tunnel before the start of the 2017 Rose Bowl Game.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 57/61
Bryce Rogers, left, and Norma Lopez, of Montrose, CA, attends her first Rose Bowl Game.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 58/61
Penn State students Sophie Randall, Audrey Zavada, and Kait Yoniske, have their photo taken as they enter the stadium.
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The “Spirit of Troy,” USC Marching Band arrives at the Rose Bowl, hours before the Trojans and the Penn State Nittany Lions play in the Rose Bowl game.
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USC football fans cheer for their Trojans team before the start of the 103rd Rose Bowl game against the Penn State Nittany Lions in Pasadena on Monday.
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Penn State football fans cheer for the Nittany Lions before the start of the 103rd Rose Bowl game against the USC Trojans in Pasadena on Monday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) That discipline translated into a crucial third-down stop with 2:08 remaining when the defensive front bounced Barkley outside and linebacker Michael Hutchings dived to tackle him for a seven-yard loss.
“He had been killing us outside all day,” Hutching said. “I just had to lay it out.”
The Trojans scored to tie it at 49-49 with 1:20 left.
The Nittany Lions’ offense had shuddered to a standstill in the fourth quarter, gaining only 14 yards.
And after McQuay dropped that first should-have-been interception on a pass that McSorley floated high and soft, Hawkins doubted Penn State would risk another try downfield.
“Were they really going to throw it up two times when we’re in prevent defense?” he marveled afterward.
Tu’ikolovatu didn’t quite believe it when he saw the next throw and watched McQuay jump to snatch it along the sideline.
“I didn’t know whether to block or celebrate,” he said. “I did both.”
McQuay raced 33 yards to set up Boermeester’s kick two snaps later. He figured the significance of his big play on a big stage might take a while to sink in.
An hour after the game, after the trophy ceremony, the senior was still in defensive-back mode.
“Just keep playing,” he said. “I knew it was going to be all right.”
david.wharton@latimes.com
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