And then the fifth-year senior turned around, spied Helton and walked toward the interim coach with arms outstretched to share a long, tight embrace. With the win over UCLA, the Trojans successfully completed a ideal 5-0 sweep of the Pac-12 South. The title of divisional champs carries weight, despite USC’s middling 8-4 record.
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The winner’s heading to the Pac-12 title game.
And then Helton said what he has said since he took over the job on an interim basis in October, that it is not his job to speculate on his status, that his job is merely to watch over the Trojans as long as he is asked.
“I think about the seniors and the roller-coaster ride they have gone through”, Helton said. “I was trying to hold it in, but I lost it a little bit out there; I was trying to hold the tears back a little bit”.
Players can’t make the decision, but their play on the field should speak loudly to USC’s administration.
Paul Perkins gave UCLA (8-4, 5-4) a 7-3 lead with a 19-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, but Kessler answered it with his touchdown run to cap an 85-yard drive in the early second. USC’s Pete Carroll won seven consecutive games from 1999-2005, though the 2004 and 2005 victories were vacated by order of the NCAA. Their consolation prize will be one of the best non-New Year’s bowls in a fun match-up against another preseason Playoff candidate with a fun offense that had a disappointing season. “There is going to be a lot of intensity, a lot of hype, a lot of emotions going on this week because we are competing for the next phase after this win”.
Jackson, whose 42-yard return in the second quarter gave USC a 20-14 halftime lead, said the Trojans played for their seniors. They are idle this week and will wait to see what bowl game they will play in.
OR gained one point from last week and remained at the top of the power rankings heading into the final regular season weekend. Fellow WR Thomas Duarte is 15th nationally in receiving TDs. “Everything was on the line. Everything was right there for us and we didn’t execute”.
California 48, Arizona State 46.: Jared Goff threw five touchdown passes, and Matt Anderson kicked a 26-yard field goal as time expired to cap an improbable comeback and lift the Golden Bears (7-5, 4-5 Pac-12) over the Sun Devils (6-6, 4-5).
USC (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) physically dominated UCLA (8-4, 5-4) in the trenches, running the ball an astounding 59 times for 235 yards rushing yards. “They’re leaving their mark not only for now in the immediate moment, but for years to come”.
Rosen, a freshman, was involved in three turnovers, but he said the Trojans did “absolutely nothing” to throw him off.
“I don’t think that you can worry about what happens in the future”, Helton said. “I knew with whatever was going on, I would just play my game, let it come to me and don’t try to attack the game”.
Jahleel Pinner #38 of the USC Trojans reacts to a quarterback snear by Cody Kessler #6 to score a touchdown to take a 10-lead over the UCLA Bruins during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
The USC defense is led by linemen, Antwaun Woods and Delvon Simmons, linebacker Su’a Cravens and defensive backs, Adoree’ Jackson and Kevon Seymour. “Our game was kind of confused”. “We’ve played well, we’ve gotten some breaks and we’ve made the most of the opportunities”. Rasheem Green walked into the end zone after Pelon dislodged the ball from UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen.
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“I really don’t know what my (legacy) will be”, Kessler said.
