USC defensive lineman Rasheem Green made one of the biggest plays of the game — and the biggest play of his young career — when the freshman returned a fumble for a touchdown in the Trojans’ 40-21 victory over UCLA on Saturday at the Coliseum.
Green scored in the third quarter after lineman Claude Pelon sacked UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen and forced a fumble.
Green ran 31 yards for a touchdown that gave USC a 26-21 lead and started a run of 20 unanswered points.
“It’s something I dreamed about — scoring a touchdown in the Coliseum,” said Green, who came to USC from Gardena Serra High. “I saw the ball and I couldn’t believe that the ball was just right there bouncing. There was no one around it. I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to pick this up and score.’”
Green did not worry about being caught from behind.
“I was not really focused on people around me,” he said. “I had tunnel vision, just running as hard as I could to score.”
Marshall doubles pleasure
Iman Marshall had a rough season at times, but the freshman cornerback intercepted two passes by Rosen to thwart the Bruins.
“Playing my positon, you’re going to have tough games, you’re going to have tough matchups,” Marshall said. “You just have to come back and just don’t let it define you as a player.
“That’s what I tried to do [Saturday], not let it define me as a player.”
Marshall intercepted a pass in the third quarter and also the fourth.
“I didn’t do anything too spectacular,” he said. “I just did what I needed to do.”
Jackson comes through again
Adoree’ Jackson returned a first-half punt 42 yards for a touchdown.
It was the second week in a row that Jackson scored on a punt return with a short field.
“We always talk about just making one person miss,” Jackson said. “I was happy that I made one person miss, and everybody [on UCLA] overlapped and collapsed to the right side.
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USC Coach Clay Helton embraces his son after a 40-21 victory over UCLA on Nov. 28 at the Coliseum.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 2/43
USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster begins celebrating a 40-21 victory over crosstown rival UCLA in the closing moments of the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 3/43
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen is consoled by offfensive lineman Conor McDermott after having a pass intercepted by USC in the fourth quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 4/43
Trojans football fans cheer their team in the closing moments of a 40-21 victory over crosstown rival UCLA on Saturday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 5/43
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen is brought down by USC linebacker Olajuwon Tucker and defensive lineman Rasheem Green (94) during the fourth quarter. Rosen attempted a pass but it was to an ineligible receiver.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 6/43
USC tight end Taylor McNamara catches a touchdown pass behind UCLA defensive back Jaleel Wadood in the fourth quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 7/43
Justin Davis and USC will visit the Rose Bowl on Saturday night for their annual rivalry game against UCLA. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC cornerback Iman Marshall steps in front of UCLA’s Jordan Payton to make an interception during the second half.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 9/43
USC cornerback Iman Marshall is chased down by UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen after intercepting a pass in the second half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 10/43
Coach Clay Helton and the Trojans will take on six teams in AP’s preseason top 25 rankings. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC cornerback Iman Marshall recovers his own fumble after intercepting a pass intended for UCLA receiver Jordan Payton in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 12/43
USC defensive lineman Claude Pelon forces UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen to fumble during the second half, leading to Rasheem Green’s 31-yard return for a touchdown.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 13/43
USC defensive lineman Rasheem Green collects the ball after UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen was sacked by Claude Pelon and fumbled in the second half. Green ran 31 yards for a score.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 14/43
USC defensive end Rasheem Green (94) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown on a fumble return in the second half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 15/43
UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte can’t reach a pass as he’s covered by USC linebacker Su’a Cravens in the second half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 16/43
USC receiver Darreus Rogers reaches for the end zone as he is tackled by UCLA defensive back Nate Meadors on a 20-yard touchdown reception in the second half.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 17/43
USC linebacker Su’a Cravens breaks up a pass intended for UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18/43
USC linebacker Uchenna Nwosu makes the unsuccessful signal after UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed an attempt in the second half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 19/43
USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson breaks up a pass intended for UCLA receiver Darren Andrews.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 20/43
USC interim Coach Clay Helton talks with quarterback Cody Kessler during the second half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 21/43
UCLA linebacker Aaron Wallace sacks USC quarterback Cody Kessler during the third quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 22/43
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen looks downfield for an open receiver against USC in the second half on Nov. 28, 2015.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 23/43
UCLA cornerback Nate Meadors brings down USC running back Justin Davis in the second half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 24/43
Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster makes a catch in front of UCLA defensive back Nate Meadors in the first half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 25/43
Bruins running back Paul Perkins breaks into the clear against the Trojans on a 19-yard touchdown run in the first half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 26/43
UCLA running back Paul Perkins is congratulated by teammate Nate Iese after scoring a touchdown against USC in the first half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 27/43
UCLA coach Jim Mora calls for the Bruins to kick an extra point after scoring a touchdown against USC in the first half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 28/43
USC running back Ronald Jones II is upended by UCLA’s Jayon Brown during the first half.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 29/43
UCLA Coach Jim Mora gets a good view of USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson returning a punt for a touchdown in the first half.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 30/43
USC linebacker Don Hill finishes off a block as teammate Adoree’ Jackson returns a punt for a touchdown in the first half.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 31/43
USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson returns a punt 42 yards for a touchdown against UCLA in the first half.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 32/43
USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (2) celebrates his punt return for a touchdown against UCLA with a teammate last Saturday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 33/43
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen unloads a deep pass against USC in the first half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 34/43
USC quarterback Cody Kessler throws downfield against UCLA in the first quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 35/43
USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster puts a hand to the face of UCLA linebacker Jayon Brown after making a reception in the first half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36/43
UCLA wide receiver Thomas Duarte exchanges words with USC linebacker Su’a Cravens after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 37/43
USC quarterback Cody Kessler is pressured by UCLA linebacker Deon Hollins during the first half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 38/43
Bruins running back Paul Perkins picks up yards against the Trojans in the first half.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 39/43
The UCLA Bruins take the field for their game against USC on Saturday at the Coliseum.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 40/43
The USC Trojans take the field for their game against UCLA on Saturday at the Coliseum.
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A member of the UCLA marching band is framed by Sousaphones before the crosstown rivalry game against USC.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 42/43
UCLA football fans arrive with refreshments before the crosstown rivalry game against USC on Saturday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 43/43
USC football fans party beneath a mural before the crosstown rivalry game against UCLA on Saturday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) “I took a picture of the left … so I just wanted to go down the sideline and it worked out perfectly.”
Jackson has scored five touchdowns, two on punt returns, two on pass receptions and one on an interception return.
Falah steps up
With center Khaliel Rodgers nursing injuries that forced him out of the game at times, third-year sophomore Nico Falah stepped in at center for the first time.
“It was a long time coming,” Falah said. “I’m glad it finally happened. I made the most of my opportunity and I want to carry it on next week.”
Falah has mainly played as a reserve tackle since coming to USC from Bellflower St. John Bosco High.
He started practicing at center last week and became the fourth player to play the position this season.
“I was really nervous the first series, but settled down a little bit and was feeling good and starting to get confidence,” he said.
Falah said he hoped Rodgers would be back for the Pac-12 championship game against Stanford.
“But if they need me to step up, I’ll come in,” he said.
Quick hits
Quarterback Cody Kessler completed 15 of 26 passes for 175 yards…. Tailback Ronald Jones III rushed for 63 yards, giving him 890 for the season to break Charles White’s USC freshman record of 858 set in 1976. “To be in that category means the world to me,” Jones said. … Rock guitarist Slash played the national anthem with the USC marching band…. Mike Williams, an All-American receiver at USC in 2003, led the Trojans out of the tunnel and onto the field.
gary.klein@latimes.com
Twitter: @latimesklein
