Defense was the name of the game Thursday as the USC Trojans took a 30-9 road victory over the Cal Golden Bears.

Despite the uneven score, the game came down to turnovers. Cal had four in the first half, after allowing just four total this season coming into Thursday’s game. USC lost the ball twice to, but Cal wasn’t able to convert either ensuing possession to points. 

The Bears led things off with a drive that culminated in a Keenan Allen fumble, recovered by linebacker Dion Bailey—the beginning of a dynamite evening for the USC freshman that included eight tackles and two interceptions. 

The Trojans would put the first points on the board, capitalizing on Cal quarterback Zach Maynard’s fumble with the first of three Andre Heidari field goals. 

But it wasn’t until the second quarter that USC quarterback Matt Barkley began to effectively read Cal’s defense. His 39-yard bullet to freshman Marqise Lee for a touchdown marked the first of three consecutive scoring drives for the Trojans, running the score up to 20-zip going into the half. 

Bolstered by some strong runs from tailback Curtis McNeal after Marc Tyler was hurt on USC’s opening play of the half, the Trojans started the second half off with a field goal.  

Barkley alternately overthrew and under-threw more passes than is usual for him, finishing 19 for 35 with 195 passing yards and two touchdowns.

After Maynard sauntered into the end zone on a three-yard touchdown run late in the third, reigniting the fire under the home crowd, left tackle Matt Kalil blocked the extra point and held the score at 23-9. 

McNeal sealed the Trojans’ victory in the fourth with a two-yard touchdown run with 5:14 to play.

"It's much more important for us to have a game and to win like that," head coach Lane Kiffin said, "And get their confidence up after all the things our defense been hearing about them[selves]." 

PLAY OF THE GAME: Bailey’s end zone interception stunned the Bears and just may have given the Trojan defense the confidence it needs to play well the rest of the season.

DYNAMIC DUO: Zach Maynard connected with his half-brother Keenan Allen for 13 catches and 160 yards. Cal’s second leading receiver, Marvin Jones, had more yards than any Trojan with 89. 

STOPPED SHORT: USC was especially effective against the run, holding the prolific Isi Sofele to just 52 yards. 

BARELY THERE: Cal managed to all but shut down Robert Woods, who finished with five catches for 36 yards after missing the school record by just five in the previous game.

HEAVY HAND: Kalil now has five blocked extra points or field goals on the year.

INJURY PRONE: Anthony Brown (ankle), Marqise Lee (wrist) and Marc Tyler (shoulder) all left the game and did not return. None of the injuries are expected to be serious, but Kiffin couldn’t provide more details.

FROSH POWER: Lee led the team in receiving, with four catches for 81-yards and a touchdown (his fourth consecutive game with a score). Bailey led the defense in tackles and interceptions. 

FARMER FILES:  True freshman George Farmer made his playing debut tonight as a returner and running back. His best play of the evening was a 21-yard kickoff return.

MYSTIFYING PLAY OF THE GAME: On USC’s first possession, the Trojans went three and out at the goal line and set up for a field goal…or so it seemed. The formation proved to be a trick play, which Rhett Ellison failed to execute by fumbling the ball on his attempted carry.

Which led to…

QUOTE OF THE GAME: “Because that’s no fun.”—Head coach Lane Kiffin, when asked why he didn’t just go for a field goal. 

Watch post game videos below:

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