UCLA Defeats USC For Second Consecutive Year

By STEVEN HERBERT
City News Service

Brett Hundley threw for 208 yards and ran for two third-quarter touchdowns as UCLA defeated USC, 35-14, Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, its biggest margin over the Trojans since a 45-20 victory in 1970.

The victory was the Bruins' first at the Coliseum since 1997, ending a seven-game losing streak.

It was also the first time UCLA recorded back-to-back victories over the Trojans since 1997 and 1998 when it completed an eight-game winning streak against their crosstown rival, the longest streak by either team in the series that began in 1929.

The Bruins were 38-28 winners in last year's game at the Rose Bowl, ending USC's five-game winning streak.

UCLA (9-3, 6-3 in Pacific-12 Conference play) never trailed and led 14-7 at halftime. Hundley completed his first five passes for 57 yards on the Bruins inital drive of the second half, then one play after an incomplete pass, ran 12 yards for a touchdown.

USC (9-4, 6-3) responded with an seven-play, 80-yard drive, culminated by Cody Kessler's 22-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Grimble.

Ishamel Adams returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the UCLA 46. Hundley accounted for 48 of the Bruins 54 yards on the drive, completing three of four passes for 30 yards and running twice for 18 yards, including a five- yard touchdown.

UCLA's Malcolm Jones ran five yards for the fourth quarter's only touchdown.

Hundley completed 18 of 27 passes and ran for 80 yards on 13 carries. Kessler was 17 for 28 for 174 yards.

The Bruins led in total yardage, 396-314.

UCLA took a 14-0 lead on two short runs by defensive players.

Myles Jack, usually a linebacker, ran three yards for a touchdown with four minutes, nine seconds left in the first quarter, seven plays after Kris Albarado's punt went out of bounds at the Trojans 48-yard line.

UCLA drove 80 yards on eight plays on its next drive, with defensive end Eddie Vanderdoes, who initially committed to USC, scoring from one yard out 12:36 before halftime.

The Trojans scored on the ensuing drive on Javorius Allen's 11-yard run with 6:55 left in the first half, completing  an 11-play, 80-yard drive that he carried the ball six times for 44 yards. Allen rushed for a game-high 123 yards on 20 carries.

The loss ended USC's five-game winning streak.

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the coin toss to determine the options for the opening kickoff ended up tails, giving the Trojans the choices. UCLA, the visiting team, had the choice and called heads.

USC leads the series, 46-30-7, although its victories in 2004 and 2005 were later vacated due to NCAA penalty.

With the victory, UCLA retains the Victory Bell, a 295-pound bell originally hung atop a Southern Pacific freight locomotive.

The bell was given to the UCLA Alumni Association in 1939. In 1941, it was taken by a group of USC students.

A year later, the student body presidents of both schools signed an agreement providing that the winner of the football game would keep possession for the next year, a tradition that has continued.