USC football: Trojans 34, Notre Dame 27 (final)
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Sixth-ranked USC survived three passes inside the five-yard line in the game’s final seconds to hold off No. 25 Notre Dame, 34-27, today at Notre Dame Stadium.
The Trojans now have eight consecutive victories in their annual series against the Irish.
Notre Dame has played in five consecutive games that have been decided in the final minute, winning three.
The Irish started their final drive at their own 22, and quarterback Jimmy Clausen took over from there.
Clausen completed six of 11 passes and also ran twice for seven yards as Notre Dame drove deep into USC territory.
The big play: A 13-yard pass from Clausen to Robby Parris on fourth-and-10 play with 35 seconds remaining on the clock. A personal foul on USC on the tackle moved the ball to the USC eight.
However, Clausen’s success stopped there. He took four shots at the end zone but could not convert.
On the first, though, USC end Malik Jackson was called for roughing the passer, moving the ball to the four.
On the next play, Clausen lofted the ball toward Kyle Rudolph, who couldn’t secure the catch before falling out of bounds as T.J. Bryant and Will Harris defended for USC.
Clausen’s next pass also missed, and Trojans players and coaches rushed the field, thinking the game was over. However, a review by the officials determined that there was still one second to play.
So the teams lined up again, Notre Dame took one more shot, but another Clausen pass fell incomplete.
Clausen, a junior from Westlake Village Oaks Christian High, completed 24 of 43 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. He has passed for 14 touchdowns with only two interceptions this season.
For USC, freshman Matt Barkley completed 19 of 29 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. His favorite target was tight end Anthony McCoy, who had five receptions for 153 yards.
USC 34, Notre Dame 27 (7:28 remaining in game)
Notre Dame has capitalized on the game’s first turnover to pull within a touchdown of USC.
Gary Gray intercepted a Matt Barkley pass at the USC 43 and returned it 30 yards to the Trojans 13.
It took Notre Dame three plays to score from there, with Jimmy Clausen hitting Golden Tate with a 15-yard scoring pass.
Both the interception and touchdown came on third-down plays. USC was trying to convert on third-and-14 when Barkley’s pass was interecepted. Clausen’s pass to Tate was on third-and-12.
USC 34, Notre Dame 20 (11:13 remaining in game)
For the second consecutive possession, Notre Dame scored with the help of a USC penalty.
Another 15-yard personal foul call aided the Irish on a seven-play, 68-yard drive.
Quarterback Jimmy Clausen ran in from two yards out to trim the USC lead to two touchdowns.
The extra point was blocked.
Along with his rushing touchdown, Clausen has completed 16 of 26 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown.
USC 34, Notre Dame 14 (13:33 remaining in game)
The Trojans, going for their eighth consective victory over the Irish, have now scored at least 34 points in eight straight games in the series.
Joe McKnight scored on a sweep right, diving into the end zone to cap a six-play, 66-yard drive for the Trojans.
USC rode the arm of Matt Barkley into scoring position. The Trojans freshman completed consecutive passes of 25 yards to Damian Williams, 28 yards to Anthony McCoy and 12 yards to Rhett Ellison to move USC to the Notre Dame one.
Barkley has completed 16 of 25 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns. McCoy has five catches for 153 yards. McKnight has rushed for 56 yards in 14 carries.
--Mike Hiserman
USC 27, Notre Dame 14 (end of third quarter)
Matt Barkley has passed for a career best 331 yards and two touchdowns.
Tight end Anthony McCoy has four catches for 125 yards. Receiver Damian Williams has four catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
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USC 27, Notre Dame 14
Whew, a couple of quick scores.
Notre Dame pulled to within 20-13 on a spectacular 45-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Clausen to receiver Golden Tate with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
It was the first touchdown pass surrendered by the Trojans this season.
USC came right back, Matt Barkley connecting with tight end Anthony McCoy for a 60-yard pass play that set up Allen Bradford‘s three-yard touchdown run. McCoy dragged Notre Dame tacklers about 15 yards after making his catch.
USC 20, Notre Dame 7 Matt Barkley threw a pass to his left along the line of scrimmage, and receiver Damian Williams caught the ball and raced 41 yards for a touchdown with 7:29 left in the third quarter.
Barkley also completed a 15-yard pass to Brice Butler and a 19-yard pass to fullback Stanley Havili during the drive, which began at the Trojans’ 27-yard line after USC middle linebacker Chris Galippo stopped Irish fullback James Aldridge on fourth and one.
Barkley has completed 11 of 19 passes for 221 yards.
USC 13, Notre Dame 7 (halftime)
Matt Barkley‘s 20-yard touchdown pass to Damian Williams in the first quarter and two second-quarter field goals by Jordan Congdon gave the Trojans their six-point lead.
Barkley has completed eight of 15 passes for 146 yards without an interception. Tailback Joe McKnight has rushed for 53 yards in 11 carries.
USC has outgained the Irish, 247-121, but has converted only three of eight third downs.
The Trojans have neutralized Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. The nation’s passing efficiency leader is seven of 14 for 47 yards.
Ends Everson Griffen and Nick Perry have sacked Clausen and pressured him on other attempts.
USC 13, Notre Dame 7 Calm down conspiracy theorists. The officials are from the Pacific 10 Conference but the replay officials are from the Big East.
It was the replay officials who overturned a ruling that Trojans tailback Allen Bradford fumbled after a one-yard loss at the Notre Dame 21, a play that followed Matt Barkley’s 23-yard pass to tight end Anthony McCoy.
USC couldn’t do much with the break, though.
So Jordan Congdon came on and kicked a 37-yard field goal despite slipping on his approach.
USC 10, Notre Dame 7 Jordan Congdon’s 24-yard field goal capped an 80-yard, 11-play drive, but the Trojans’ struggles scoring touchdowns in the red zone continue.
Matt Barkley’s 17-yard pass to receiver Brice Butler on third down early in the drive set up tailback Joe McKnight’s 25-yard run.
Tailback Allen Bradford broke loose for a 23-yard gain, running over safety Harrison Smith in the process, to move the ball to the 10.
Barkley then threw incomplete, Bradford ran for five yards and Barkley misfired on third down to set up the field goal with 12:44 left in the second quarter.
USC 7, Notre Dame 7 (end of first quarter)
Notre Dame got creative, setting up the game-tying touchdown with a fake field goal.
The Fighting Irish were energized by a big hit by linebacker Manti Te’o on Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley along the USC sideline on a third-down play that forced the Trojans to punt.
Taking over at their own 44-yard line, the Irish drove to the USC 27 in eight plays and then set up for a field goal.
But receiver Robbie Parris stayed just inside the sideline.
Holder Eric Maust took the snap, then wheeled around and fired a pass to Parris, surprising the Trojans. (Maust is a pitcher for the Irish baseball team).
Parris was tackled at the two yard-line but halfback Robert Hughes took a snap out of the Wildcat formation and ran the ball into the end zone.
USC 7, Notre Dame 0
Notre Dame is ranked 110th out of 120 major college teams in pass defense.
It looked the part during a USC drive that covered 88 yards in five plays.
Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley completed a 35-yard pass to tight end Anthony McCoy, followed it with a 22-yard strike to wide receiver Damian Williams, then found Williams again on a post route for a 20-yard touchdown with 8:47 left in the first quarter.
If Notre Dame doesn’t tighten up its coverage, it could be a long day for the Fighting Irish.
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About five minutes before kick off and the Trojans just came onto the field.
Film director Spike Lee, a Trojans fan, is on the sideline wearing a No. 13 Stafon Johnson jersey.
Actor Will Ferrell and former Trojans lineman Anthony Munoz also are on the field.
-- Gary Klein