USC vs. Boston College: Emerald Bowl in-game report

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USC 24, Boston College 13 (final)

A cornerback playing his first game of the season and a receiver probably playing the last game of his college career came up with the big plays as USC finished up a roller coaster season on a high note with a 24-13 win over Boston College in the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

The defensive play was turned in by Shareece Wright, who was expected to be a starter this season but turned up academically ineligible this fall.

USC was clinging to a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter when Wright made a diving interception of a pass thrown by Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie.

The turnover gave USC the ball near midfield, and on the next play Damian Williams made a diving catch between three defenders for a 48-yard gain to the one-yard line. Quarterback Matt Barkley scored on a sneak on the next play for the touchdown that secured USC’s record-setting 32nd bowl-game victory.

Williams, a junior, may have been playing his final game with the Trojans. He will soon decide whether to stay in college for his final season of eligibility or enter the NFL draft.

Whether he stays or goes, he closed out 2009 with a huge game, making 12 catches for 189 yards.

USC won without junior tailback Joe McKnight, who was held out because the school’s compliance office had not finished investigating his relationship with a Santa Monica businessman.

Even without their top rusher, USC gained 438 yards, including 350 yards passing by Barkley, who completed 27 of 37 attempts.

‘It’s been a crazy year. We’ve had some ups and we’ve had some downs,’ Barkley said in a television interview immediately after the game. ‘To be able to finish like this with this victory, especially for the seniors, this is big. This is huge.’

Barkley passed for two touchdowns -- both to fullback Stanley Havili -- with two interceptions. Havili had six catches for 83 yards.

Allen Bradford started at tailback in place of McKnight and rushed for 72 yards in 17 carries.

USC’s defense was led by tackle Jurell Casey, who had a sack, a fumble recovery and batted down a pass.

Boston College got 102 yards rushing from Montel Harris, but the Eagles’ freshman quarterback, 25-year-old Shinskie, a former minor league pitcher, couldn’t keep pace with Barkley.

Shinskie completed 14 of 33 passes for 218 yards -- 61 of the yards coming on a touchdown pass to senior Rich Grunnell, the top receiver in Boston College history, who made a nice run after making the catch.

USC finishes with a 9-4 record. Boston College fell to 8-5.

USC’s victory was the first for the Pacific 10 Conference this bowl season after losses by California, to Utah in the Poinseitta Bowl, and Oregon State, to Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl. The Pac-10 will play in four more games. Next: UCLA against Temple in the EagleBank Bowl in Washington D.C.

USC 24, Boston College 13 (11:53, fourth quarter)

Two diving catches and suddenly USC’s lead seems safe again.

The first diving play was made by USC cornerback Shareece Wright, who picked off a Boston College pass near midfield.

The second came on the next play -- a 48-yard bomb from Matt Barkley to Damian Williams. Barkley then scored on a quarterback sneak on the next play, giving the Trojans a 24-13 lead.

Wright was playing his first game of the season.He was expected to be a starter, but then turned up academically ineligible.

Williams’ catch came between three Boston College defenders.

Barkley has completed 25 of 35 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

Williams, a junior who might be playing his last college game, has 11 catches for 166 yards.

USC 17, Boston College 13 (start of fourth quarter)

USC has outgained Boston College, 340 yards to 240, but two turnovers and a missed 35-yard field goal have left the Trojans hanging on to a four-point lead heading into the fourth quarter in the Emerald Bowl.

Jordan Congdon was short on a 35-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter, appearing to slip on a rain soaked field just before he connected with the ball.

Boston College will try to come back with running back Montel Harris trying to play through a deep bruise to his hind quarters. Unfortunately for the Eagles, that leaves things in the hands of quarterback Dave Shinskie, a 25-year-old freshman quarterback who has been erratic most of the game.

Shinskie played six seasons as a minor league baseball pitcher. A guess having just watched him for three quarters tonight: he had control problems.

Shinskie has completed nine of 20 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. Harris has rushed for 83 yards in 20 carries. He averaged 113 yards rushing a game during the regular season.

--Mike Hiserman

USC 17, Boston College 13 (third quarter)

Boston College’s missed PAT in the second quarter is looming large.

USC’s Jordan Congdon kicked a 38-yard field goal with 9:08 left in the third quarter to give the Trojans a four-point lead.

Boston College wasted an opportunity early in the quarter after safety Marcellus Bowman intercepted a Matt Barkley pass and returned it 40 yards on the first play of the second half.

But on second and goal, Montel Harris fumbled a handoff and USC defensive tackle Jurrell Casey recovered for the Trojans, setting up a nine-play, 48-yard drive that ended with Congdon’s kick.

USC 14, Boston College 13 (halftime)

USC is leading but it looks like Boston College has the momentum going into the second half.

The Eagles came back from a 14-0 deficit with touchdowns on consecutive possessions.

After Boston College pulled to within 14-6 on Montel Harris’ short touchdown run, safety Wes Davis intercepted a pass thrown by Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley. End Brad Newman appeared to hit Barkley’s passing arm on the play.

Boston College then pulled to within a point on receiver Rich Gunnell’s 61-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

Barkley has completed 15 of 19 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception. Allen Bradford leads USC rushers with 33 yards in eight carries.

Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie is eight of 13 for 159 yards and a touchdown. Harris has rushed for 71 yards in 14 carries.

USC 14, Boston College 13 (second quarter) USC’s plays a bend-don’t-break pass defense that often frustrates Trojans fans.

But Boston College just broke through.

Receiver Rich Gunnell caught a pass over the middle from Dave Shinskie and outran the Trojans secondary to the end zone for a 61-yard scoring play with 3:48 left in the first half.

The 61-yard scoring pass was the longest given up by the Trojans since they surrendered a 69-yard touchdown to Brigham Young in 2004.

USC 14, Boston College 6 (second quarter)

Well, Boston College just woke up.

The Eagles answered USC’s second touchdown with tailback Montel Harris, who ran for all but 17 yards during a 68-yard scoring drive.

Harris broke off consecutive runs of 16, 11 and 14 yards before taking a two-play break and finishing the drive with a seven-yard scoring run.

Fortunately for USC, kicker Steve Aponavicius’ streak of 81 consecutive extra points ended when he hit the right upright.

USC 14, Boston College 0 (second quarter)

It took awhile, basically the whole season, but USC looks as if it figured out that it had a pretty good pass-catching fullback.

Stanley Havili, who already scored on a 53-yard catch-and-run play, caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Matt Barkley with 12:36 left in the second quarter. The touchdown ended a 12-play, 82-yard drive highlighted by several third-down completions by Barkley and a 38-yard strike to Damian Williams.

Barkley has completed 12 of 13 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

USC 7, Boston College 0 (end of first quarter) Matt Barkley is unofficially eight of nine for 97 yards and a touchdown.

The Trojans will start the second quarter with a second-and-eight play at their 43-yard line.

Receiver David Ausberry, who had not played since mid-season because of a leg injury, caught a third-down pass for a first down. Tailback C.J. Gable, buried on the depth chart all season, gained two yards on a pitch play.

USC 7, Boston College 0 (first quarter)

A good start for the Trojans.

USC quarterback Matt Barkley threw a short pass to fullback Stanley Havili, and Havili turned it into a 53-yard touchdown with just over six minutes left in the first quarter.

Boston College was moving the ball on the game’s first possession, but a fumble by running back Montel Harris on a direct snap and two incomplete passes by quarterback Dave Shinskie forced the Eagles to punt.

USC started at its 10-yard line and moved upfield behind tailback Allen Bradford and Barkley. On second and 10 from their own 47, Barkley found Havili in the right flat, and the junior slipped a tackle and then sprinted to the end zone.

Pregame

Joe McKnight did not go through warm-ups with USC before the Emerald Bowl, an indication that the junior tailback might not play tonight against Boston College. USC’s compliance office has been investigating McKnight’s use of a sport utility vehicle that is owned by a Santa Monica businessman. McKnight did not accompany the Trojans to the Bay Area on Monday, but he rejoined the team on Wednesday and practiced Thursday.

McKnight was on the field in a sweat suit before pregame drills, but he did not emerge in uniform when the Trojans came out for warm-ups, which took place amid heavy rain. USC athletic department officials at AT&T Park have not said whether McKnight will play or sit out.

Allen Bradford will most likely start in McKnight’s place if he is held out of the game.

-- Gary Klein