Originally published October 24, 2009 at 11:39 PM | Page modified October 24, 2009 at 11:41 PM
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Pac-10 Football | USC fends off Oregon State, 42-36
Most of Oregon State's punt-coverage team was to his left, so Damian Williams went right. When he dodged the final tackler and slipped into the end zone early in the fourth quarter, he thought USC finally had shaken Oregon State as well.
The Associated Press
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MARK J. TERRILL / AP
USC wide receiver Ronald Johnson, right, makes a diving catch for a touchdown as Oregon State safety Lance Mitchell, left, gives chase during the first half of their Pac-10 game Saturday night.
KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / GETTY IMAGES
Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield, left, is sacked by USC's Michael Morgan during the first quarter of Saturday's game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
LOS ANGELES — Most of Oregon State's punt-coverage team was to his left, so Damian Williams went right. When he dodged the final tackler and slipped into the end zone early in the fourth quarter, he thought USC finally had shaken Oregon State as well.
"And then they went down and scored again like it was nothing," Williams recalled. "I said, 'I guess it's still going to be a fight here.' "
The No. 4 Trojans won that fight with one final drive by their revitalized offense, which relished a rare chance to bail out their usually formidable defense in a 42-36 victory Saturday night.
Allen Bradford rushed for a career-high 147 yards and two touchdowns as USC avenged its only loss of last season — a 27-21 defeat last September that prevented the Trojans (6-1, 3-1 Pac-10) from playing for the national title.
USC's defense looked nowhere near title shape against Sean Canfield, Jacquizz Rodgers and the Beavers (4-3, 2-2), who shredded it for 482 total yards — including James Rodgers' 7-yard TD catch less than two minutes after Williams' 63-yard punt return put the Trojans up 42-23.
Jacquizz Rodgers' 1-yard TD plunge with 5:41 to play cut USC's lead to 42-36, but the Trojans converted two third downs while running out the clock, with Bradford picking up one last with a stiff-arm in the final minute.
"It was the moment you dream about," said Bradford, who has spent most of his USC career stuck behind Chauncey Washington and Joe McKnight, who missed much of this game with injured hands. "We knew we had to keep scoring and being consistent to beat these guys. It's good to pick up the defense, because they've been picking us up all year."
Canfield passed for 329 yards and a career-best three touchdowns for the Beavers. Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 113 yards and a score and also caught a TD pass on an injured ankle.
"I'm very proud of our team for their fight," said Oregon State coach Mike Riley.
| Oregon St. | 6 | 3 | 14 | 13 | — | 36 |
| USC | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | — | 42 |
USC — McCoy 8 pass from Barkley (Congdon kick), 9:49.
OrSt — FG Kahut 48, 5:06.
OrSt — FG Kahut 48, 1:57.
Second Quarter
USC — R.Johnson 22 pass from Barkley (Congdon kick), 12:53.
USC — Barkley 1 run (Congdon kick), 2:15.
OrSt — FG Kahut 33, :05.
Third Quarter
OrSt — Jac.Rodgers 6 pass from Canfield (Kahut kick), 10:26.
USC — Bradford 2 run (Congdon kick), 6:34.
OrSt — Adeniji 15 pass from Canfield (Kahut kick), 3:18.
USC — Bradford 43 run (Congdon kick), :42.
Fourth Quarter
USC — Williams 63 punt return (Congdon kick), 14:05.
OrSt — Jam.Rodgers 7 pass from Canfield (pass failed), 12:07.
OrSt — Jac.Rodgers 1 run (Kahut kick), 5:41.
A — 89,718.
| OrSt | USC | |||
| First downs | 22 | 22 |
| Rushes-yards | 34-153 | 33-227 |
| Passing | 329 | 202 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 30-43-0 | 15-25-2 |
| Return Yards | 7 | 68 |
| Punts-Avg. | 3-49.0 | 3-44.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 3-1 | 0-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 9-85 | 5-60 |
| Time of Possession | 32:18 | 27:42 |
Rushing — Oregon St., Jac.Rodgers 20-113, Jam.Rodgers 6-42, McCants 2-10, Stevenson 1-9, Wheaton 1-2, Canfield 4-(- 23). USC, Bradford 15-147, McKnight 11-65, Barkley 5-16, McNeal 1-1, Team 1-(- 2).
Passing — Oregon St., Canfield 30-43-0-329. USC, Barkley 15-25-2-202.
Receiving — Oregon St., Halahuni 9-127, Jam.Rodgers 7-56, Adeniji 5-81, Jac.Rodgers 4-10, Kjos 2-20, Bishop 1-21, Stevenson 1-9, Camp 1-5. USC, R.Johnson 6-99, Williams 6-58, McCoy 2-25, Butler 1-20.
