Los Angeles, CA- No.19 USC finished the season unbeaten at home after a 29-10 win over rival UCLA on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Running back King Miller rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way for the Trojans.
“That was a fun night in the Coliseum right there. Another phenomenal atmosphere,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “One of the things we talked about earlier in the season with this team was protecting our home, and there’s two parts of that. It’s one, that us as a program, playing well at home. And then the flip side of that is the Coliseum lit up like it was tonight.”
Both starting wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane were benched for the first two first offensive series, according to Lincoln Riley. Lane finished with three receptions for 52 yards and Lemon’s only reception was a 32-yard touchdown.
UCLA took a halftime lead but were shut out in the second half. Nico Iamaleava threw for 200 yards and was sacked four times.
USC opened the scoring with a 10-play, 75-yard drive on the opening possession, which was capped by a King Miller 5-yard touchdown run. UCLA began the second quarter with Iamaleava’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Kwazi Gilmer.
The Trojans kicker Ryan Sayeri had a field goal blocked in the first quarter and missed another one wide right in the second quarter. USC and UCLA remained tied 7-7 with two minutes left in the second quarter. The Bruins added a field goal at the end of the half for a 10-7 lead.
“Proud of the response there in the second half, another dominant performance defensively there in the second half,” Riley said. Special teams and offense were able to finish some plays there. And obviously, we just got on a big run there as a team and really, really separated.”
USC’s defense forced a punt and the offense drove down the field with ease as Maiava hit Lemon in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown. The Trojans took a 14-10 lead with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.
Maiava threw an interception but it was nullified after a roughing the passer penalty was called on UCLA’s defensive end Anthony Jones. On the same drive, Maiava hit tight end Lake Mcree in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown and the Trojans took a 21-10 lead with 11:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Miller put the finishing touches on the victory with a 41-yard touchdown run with 2:29 left in the fourth quarter. USC ends the season 9-3 overall and 7-2 in the BIG 10 conference.
“I’ve talked a lot about the vision that I talked about at the opening press conference here. Just how I feel about this place,” Riley said. And I understand that Los Angeles is a place that people aren’t going to show up just because. You have to win. You have to give them something. And when you do, there’s no better sports town.”