USC escapes with close win over Cal, 38-30
Junior wideout Nelson Agholor became the first player in USC history with consecutive 200-yard receiving games and redshirt junior quarterback Cody Kessler added four touchdowns to his season total in an ugly, penalty-filled 38-30 win over Cal on Thursday night.
The Trojans (7-3, 6-2 Pac-12) jumped out to a 31-2 lead midway through the second quarter behind the Kessler-to-Agholor connection, but could not close out the resilient Golden Bears (5-5, 3-5).
Cal quarterback Jared Goff found wide receiver Stephen Anderson for a 29-yard touchdown with just 1:36 remaining, cutting the Trojans’ lead to eight. The Bears’ dreams of a remarkable comeback came to end, however, when James Langford’s onside kick landed in the waiting arms of USC sophomore wide receiver Darreus Rogers. The Trojans proceeded to run out the clock, surviving another disastrous second half performance.
USC head coach Steve Sarkisian recognized that his team dodged a bullet against a tough Cal squad, but refused to admit that his team suffered a second half letdown.
“We knew all along that their offense would start clicking,” Sarkisian said. “I wish we would’ve performed a little better in the red zone. We left some points on the board and we have the ability to play better. But I don’t think we let down.”
Agholor, who finished with 16 reception for 216 yards and two touchdowns, downplayed his monster night.
“My job is just to get open,” Agholor said. “Coach called great plays and Cody [Kessler] gave me opportunities.”
Sarkisian was straightforward in his praise of Agholor.
“When you practice well, the results show up on game day,” Sarkisian said. “This guy practices his tail off. The first day back after the Washington State game, he was out on the Jugs machine catching balls. Work ethic pays off.”
Though they managed just seven points in the final 31 minutes of the game, the Trojans looked unstoppable out of the gate. The offense got on the scoreboard immediately, driving 85 yards on their opening possession for the game’s first touchdown. Fittingly, the drive ended on a 10-yard strike from Kessler to Agholor.
After a Cal three-and-out, USC was back in the endzone in a flash. Two quick outs to Agholor set up Kessler’s second score, a 32-yard play action bomb to speedy junior wideout George Farmer.
Agholor pulled down another touchdown midway through the second quarter, a 10-yard missile set up by a forced fumble from sophomore safety Leon McQuay III. On the ensuing possession, Bears’ head coach Sonny Dykes dialed up a disastrous fake punt, allowing USC to take over with excellent field position. Unsurprisingly, Kessler and the Trojans cashed in, extending their lead to 29 after a chip shot field goal from senior kicker Andre Heidari.
Though the Trojans’ offense will get the recognition for a dominant first half, it was the team’s defense that set the tone. Goff, who came into the game averaging 346.6 pass yards per game, was held to just 96 yards in the first 30 minutes of the game.
As should be expected in the wild Pac-12 conference, the Bears refused to go quietly. Goff led a nine-play, 60-yard scoring drive just before halftime, cutting USC’s lead to 31-9.
The Trojan defense continued to falter for the rest of the contest, first allowing an 11-play, 79-yard drive on Cal’s second possession of the third quarter that culminated in a five-yard touchdown from running back Daniel Lasco.
As the much-maligned Pac-12 referees slowed the game’s pace down to a crawl in the final quarter, USC senior tight end Randall Telfer attempted to put the game out of reach with a 16-yard touchdown grab. Kessler, who expertly avoided the Cal pass rush and scrambled to his right to find Telfer, was flagged for taunting after the play. The Trojans accumulated 14 penalties over the course of the game, for a total of 159 yards. Sarkisian hinted that he was unhappy with the officials after the game.
“I’m gonna refrain from getting a fine,” the first-year coach said.
The Bears added another score midway through the fourth, cutting the gap to 38-23. USC then punted with less than four minutes remaining, setting up Cal’s last scoring drive.
Even after the late-game drama, Sarkisian was adamant that he will accept any win, regardless of the circumstances.
“We played a really good football game,” Sarkisian said. “all in all its a really good win in November. The goal is to be 4-0 in November, and we’re on track to do that.”
The Trojans will take the field again next Saturday, when they head across town to face archrival UCLA at the Rose Bowl.
Quick Hits
Heidari’s second-quarter field goal marked the first time all season that the Trojans were unable to score a touchdown in a goal-to-go situation.
USC racked up eight penalties in the first half alone, totaling 85 yards.
Kessler finished 31-42 with 371 yards. After a career-high 400-yard performance against Washington State on Nov. 1, this game marks the first time Kessler has thrown for 300-plus yards in consecutive contest.
Telfer’s touchdown was his first of the season and the 11th of his USC career.
Notable Trojan supporters in attendance included former quarterback Matt Leinart, actor Adam Sandler and recording artist Miley Cyrus.
Fire Mike Rae’s caddy first!
Will,
Sarkisian is delusional or he needs to watch the game again. For him to deny a second half meltdown is ridiculous. This is becoming classic USC football with him. Start strong in the fist half and let teams catch up, ranked or not, in the second half. I have watched game after game where USC blows the lead and allows it to get within a field goal or touchdown. Certainly you have seen the ugly losses that happened that shouldn’t have happened. I think Sark will have his butt on the line if he bombs the next two games. Sure Haden may not boot him yet, but the conversation will start when the style of wins doesn’t change. It’s not enough to simply win. There needs to be convincing wins because if it stays like this, ugly losses will be customary every year. Sark will be lucky to get a “W” against two ranked teams who have clearly done better than USC so far this year.