USC vs Cal Score: Trojans Roll Over Bears At Coliseum

Thursday’s USC vs Cal score showed a lopsided victory for the Trojans, one which probably should have been even greater after a dominant performance at the LA Coliseum, 45-24.

The lowdown: USC opened up a big lead in the first half with an electric first quarter of play.

First, Sam Darnold found Darreus Rogers on a slant for his first touchdown of the season, capping a drive started by a 60-yard Ronald Jones II run on the Trojans’ first play of the game.

Jones finished the next USC drive with a 16-yard screen for make it 14-0 before Marvell Tell III ended the subsequent Cal possession with an interception on the sideline.

To start the second quarter, Darnold hit Deontay Burnett on a rollout to put USC up by a comanding score of 21-0.

However, the second quarter was not kind to Darnold, who fumbled twice in the quarter. The first, a strip-sack by former Trojan DeVante Wilson, resulted in a Cal touchdown on a screen pass from Davis Webb to Tre Watson. The second set up a Bear field goal to cut the lead further.

Before the end of the half, Darnold made up for his fumbles with a 20-yard touchdown to Rogers and a Cal fumble gave USC the chance for more points with seconds left, but Matt Boermeester missed the 42-yard attempt.

When USC stalled on their first driving coming out of the half, the Bears took advantage, driving to set up a one-yard score for Webb on a keeper.

In response, Jones continued his career-night, running in a touchdown from 37 yards out to eclipse the 200-yard mark on the night. As the third quarter neared its end, Darnold tossed a fifth touchdown pass on the night to an unmarked Daniel Imatorbhebhe for 17 yards making it 42-17.

A Cal touchdown to former USC commit Melquise Stovall cut it to 42-24 in the fourth quarter.

The takeaway: The scoreline didn’t always show it, but USC dominated Cal from the start, moving the ball at will and largely bottling up a potent Bear offense.

Cal’s deficiencies defensively were particularly noticeable, but the Trojans could only play the team in front of them and they had their way with the Bears.

Standout performances from Jones and Aca’Cedric Ware shed light on the progress of USC’s running attack, even with starter Justin Davis sidelined by an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Darnold continued his bright stretch as a starter.

Despite a relatively, if not entirely, comfortable victory, there were issues to raise concern. USC’s troubles holding onto the football reared their ugly head again with two fumbles giving the Bears the chance to get a foothold in a game that should have been a blowout.

On top of the turnovers, the Trojans drew 11 penalties for 110 yards. Against Cal, those problems were not enough to derail the bright performance but tougher opposition will make USC pay for such missteps.

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Those are kinks for USC to work out next week against Oregon before facing highly-ranked Washington in the game which could decide the Trojans fate this year.

Player of the game: Ronald Jones II. The sophomore running back had a career-high 223 yards with a touchdown on the ground and through the air. It’s the most by a USC running back since 2010, when Allen Bradford also had 223 vs. UCLA. Only Reggie Bush and Shawn Walters have had higher single game totals since 1981.

Stat of the game: USC topped 398 yards rushing on the night, a season high.

Next on tap: The Trojans stay at home, hosting Oregon at the Coliseum on November 5.

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