SoCal NCAA Roundup

UCLA 30, (10) CALIFORNIA 21 ---------------------------
PASADENA, California (Ticker) -- Still stinging from a loss against winless Notre Dame two weeks ago, UCLA turned to its running game and defense to remain undefeated in the Pac-10 Conference. Kahlil Bell ran for 142 yards and cornerback Alterraun Verner returned his second interception of the game 76 yards for a touchdown as the Bruins upset 10th-ranked California, 30-21. UCLA (5-2, 4-0 Pac-10) appeared to be gaining momentum after suffering a 44-6 loss at Utah on September 15 thanks to conference wins over Washington and Oregon State. However, Notre Dame held the Bruins to 46 yards rushing and 140 yards total in a poor showing on October 6. Bell, who was held to 64 yards rushing in the loss to the Fighting Irish, matched that number on his first run of the second quarter which helped set UCLA up for its first TD drive. One play later, quarterback Patrick Cowan found Logan Paulsen from two yards out to put the Bruins ahead, 10-7. The Bruins' defense, who did not intercept California (5-1, 2-2) quarterback Nate Longshore in the first half, made life miserable for him after that. The junior, who entered the contest with just two interceptions this season, was forced into three mistakes in the second half, including Verner's return that handed the Bruins a 30-21 advantage. After Longshore hit DeSean Jackson for the first of the junior receiver's two TD catches to give California a 14-10 lead midway through the second period, UCLA kicker Kai Forbath converted the first of his three field goals to narrow the deficit to 14-13 going into half. UCLA pulled ahead early in the third quarter, opening the second half with a 10-play, 80-yard TD drive capped by wide receiver Brandon Breazell's 29-yard scoring pass off an end-around play to Dominique Johnson in the back of the end zone. Johnson outfought California safety Thomas DeCoud for the ball, giving the Bruins a 20-14 lead that stood most of the period. Following Jackson's second TD reception at the 2:06 mark of the third period that allowed California to take a 21-20 lead, UCLA scored twice in the final 3:08 to pull off the upset. Forbath capped an 11-play, 42-yard drive to move UCLA ahead 23-21. However, just as it looked as if the Golden Bears were putting themselves into position to retake the lead after Jimmy Rotstein's 56-yard kick return, Verner stepped in front of an out pattern to put the game safely out of reach. The loss ruined a fine performance from Jackson, who finished with nine catches for 136 yards. (13)

USC 38, NOTRE DAME 0 -------------------------
SOUTH BEND, Indiana (Ticker) -- In a battle of backup quarterbacks, Evan Sharpley wasn't the answer for Notre Dame's inept offense. However, Mark Sanchez had no problems for Southern California. Sanchez threw for 235 yards and four touchdowns and 13th-ranked USC held Notre Dame to just 165 yards of offense as the Trojans pounded the Irish, 38-0. Sanchez, who was making his second start while filling in for the injured John David Booty, completed 21-of-38 passes and threw a touchdown to four different receivers . It was the sixth straight loss to USC for the Irish, who suffered their worst home shutout defeat since losing, 40-0, to Oklahoma in 1956. Sharpley, who was making his first start of the season in place of freshman Jimmy Clausen, completed 17-of-33 passes for 117 yards with one interception. He was sacked five times. After a defensive struggle for much of the first quarter, USC recovered a punt that had bounced off an Irish player on Notre Dame's 9-yard line. The Trojans took advantage on the first play when Sanchez found tight end Fred Davis in the left corner of the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 3:40 remaining in the opening quarter. USC (6-1) doubled their lead with just under four minutes left in the first half. Sanchez rolled out and hit Allen Bradford for an 8-yard score that capped a 10-play, 79 yard drive and gave the Trojans a 14-0 lead. A 30-yard field goal by David Buehler made made it 17-0 with 11 seconds remaining in the half. Travis Thomas fumbled on his own 12-yard line on the second play of the second half for the Irish, and Sanchez found Stanley Havili for a 5-yard touchdown to give the Trojans a 24-point lead two minutes into the third quarter. Vidal Hazelton hauled in a 48-yard touchdown midway through the third and freshman Joe McKnight scored his first career touchdown on a 51-yard run in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring. Notre Dame (1-7), which came into the game ranked dead last nationally in total offense, managed just four first downs in the first half and went three-and-out nine times.