Recap: U-S-C vs. California
Sports Network | November 09, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Mark Sanchez threw two touchdown passes and the USC defense held California to just 165 yards of total offense, as the seventh-ranked Trojans survived the Bears with a 17-3 triumph in a crucial Pac-10 showdown.
Sanchez threw for 238 yards on 18-of-29 attempts, while Patrick Turner and Ronald Johnson each caught a TD for USC (8-1, 6-1 Pac-10), which moved closer to capturing an unprecedented seventh consecutive Pac-10 title with the victory.
Since losing to Oregon State in late September, the Trojans have reeled off six straight wins, outscoring their opponents 231-23 during that stretch. USC is now 25-0 in the month of November under head coach Pete Carroll.
Giorgio Tavecchio gave the Bears their only offense with a first-quarter field goal while both Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley struggled in moving the ball from under center.
Longshore was 11-of-15 for 79 yards before being replaced in the second half by Riley, who completed only four passes on 16 attempts for 59 yards with an interception for the Bears (6-3, 4-2).
The Bears next travel to take on an Oregon State squad that moved to 5-1 in the conference with a convincing win over UCLA earlier Saturday.
The Trojans play at Stanford next Saturday before an open date the following week. USC's game at hand will be wiped out as Oregon State will follow its matchup against Cal with a road test against Arizona that could very well determine the conference champion.
