LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chase Garbers threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score, and California snapped its 14-game losing streak against Southern California with a 15-14 victory Saturday night.
Vic Wharton III made his first TD reception of the season as the Golden Bears (6-4, 3-4 Pac-12) rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit and secured bowl eligibility for just the second time in seven seasons with their first win at the Coliseum in 18 years.
USC fans booed Clay Helton as he walked up the tunnel.
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) November 11, 2018
Cal did all of its scoring in an eight-minute span of the third quarter, starting with a safety when a shotgun snap by USC (5-5, 4-4) went 22 yards backward into the end zone.
J.T. Daniels passed for 180 yards and threw two TD passes to Tyler Vaughns, but the Trojans were shut out in the second half of their third loss in four games. USC gained just 41 yards after halftime against Cals sturdy defense, losing at the Coliseum for the second straight game after a 19-game home winning streak.
Cal beat USC for the first time since its famed 34-31, triple-overtime victory over the vaunted Trojans in Berkeley in 2003. The Trojans hadnt lost to the Bears at the Coliseum since 2000, coach Paul Hacketts final season at USC before Pete Carroll took over.
WATCH LIVE: Trojans speak to the media following their game against Cal. #FightOn https://t.co/Uqg9l9GtgC
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) November 11, 2018
Both defenses were solid early on a chilly night at the Coliseum, but the Trojans appeared to be in good shape for yet another win over their upstate rivals despite failing on a fake field goal in the first quarter.
A few minutes after Vaughns caught a 2-yard TD pass in the second quarter, Ajene Harris stripped Garbers after a 23-yard run. Daniels then hit Vaughns for a 23-yard score one play after completing a tough fourth-and-6 pass to fellow freshman Amon-Ra St. Brown.
USC could have had more, but Cals Luc Bequette stripped the ball from St. Brown at the Cal 10 in the final minute before halftime.
14-GAME WIN STREAK SNAPPED!
Cal beats USC for the first time since 2003 pic.twitter.com/opzh2DJTwW
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) November 11, 2018
But after managing only 69 yards of offense in the first half, the Bears quickly got back in it. After Cal got a safety on Toa Lobendahns horrific shotgun snap, Garbers promptly threw a 29-yard TD pass down the middle to an unguarded Wharton, who somehow hadnt scored in 10 games as a starting wideout despite leading the Bears in yards receiving.
Garbers had only 30 yards passing all night before that 29-yard scoring throw.
Daniels then threw his first interception to Traveon Beck, and Garbers mounted Cals go-ahead drive culminating in his 5-yard TD run. Garbers celebrated by raising the Trojans famed V for Victory gesture — and then turning the “V” downward.
Does USC have anything in its playbook besides "JT Daniels hurls it downfield and hopes his guy comes down with it?"
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 11, 2018
THE TAKEAWAY
California: Despite another mediocre offensive game, coach Justin Wilcox has more tangible proof of progress in his second year with this gutsy win in a tough venue. The Bears will go bowling, and theyre riding momentum into the Big Game with Stanford next week.
USC: Coach Clay Heltons second game as the Trojans play-caller was good in stretches, but not nearly good enough. His seat is even hotter now, and itll be scorching if the Trojans dont beat UCLA to secure bowl eligibility next week before No. 3 Notre Dame visits after Thanksgiving.
UP NEXT
California: Host Stanford in the 121st Big Game on Nov. 17.
USC: At UCLA in the annual crosstown showdown on Nov. 17.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chase Garbers threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score, and California snapped its 14-game losing streak against Southern California with a 15-14 victory Saturday night.
Vic Wharton III made his first TD reception of the season as the Golden Bears (6-4, 3-4 Pac-12) rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit and secured bowl eligibility for just the second time in seven seasons with their first win at the Coliseum in 18 years.
USC fans booed Clay Helton as he walked up the tunnel.
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) November 11, 2018
Cal did all of its scoring in an eight-minute span of the third quarter, starting with a safety when a shotgun snap by USC (5-5, 4-4) went 22 yards backward into the end zone.
J.T. Daniels passed for 180 yards and threw two TD passes to Tyler Vaughns, but the Trojans were shut out in the second half of their third loss in four games. USC gained just 41 yards after halftime against Cals sturdy defense, losing at the Coliseum for the second straight game after a 19-game home winning streak.
Cal beat USC for the first time since its famed 34-31, triple-overtime victory over the vaunted Trojans in Berkeley in 2003. The Trojans hadnt lost to the Bears at the Coliseum since 2000, coach Paul Hacketts final season at USC before Pete Carroll took over.
WATCH LIVE: Trojans speak to the media following their game against Cal. #FightOn https://t.co/Uqg9l9GtgC
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) November 11, 2018
Both defenses were solid early on a chilly night at the Coliseum, but the Trojans appeared to be in good shape for yet another win over their upstate rivals despite failing on a fake field goal in the first quarter.
A few minutes after Vaughns caught a 2-yard TD pass in the second quarter, Ajene Harris stripped Garbers after a 23-yard run. Daniels then hit Vaughns for a 23-yard score one play after completing a tough fourth-and-6 pass to fellow freshman Amon-Ra St. Brown.
USC could have had more, but Cals Luc Bequette stripped the ball from St. Brown at the Cal 10 in the final minute before halftime.
14-GAME WIN STREAK SNAPPED!
Cal beats USC for the first time since 2003 pic.twitter.com/opzh2DJTwW
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) November 11, 2018
But after managing only 69 yards of offense in the first half, the Bears quickly got back in it. After Cal got a safety on Toa Lobendahns horrific shotgun snap, Garbers promptly threw a 29-yard TD pass down the middle to an unguarded Wharton, who somehow hadnt scored in 10 games as a starting wideout despite leading the Bears in yards receiving.
Garbers had only 30 yards passing all night before that 29-yard scoring throw.
Daniels then threw his first interception to Traveon Beck, and Garbers mounted Cals go-ahead drive culminating in his 5-yard TD run. Garbers celebrated by raising the Trojans famed V for Victory gesture — and then turning the “V” downward.
Does USC have anything in its playbook besides "JT Daniels hurls it downfield and hopes his guy comes down with it?"
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 11, 2018
THE TAKEAWAY
California: Despite another mediocre offensive game, coach Justin Wilcox has more tangible proof of progress in his second year with this gutsy win in a tough venue. The Bears will go bowling, and theyre riding momentum into the Big Game with Stanford next week.
USC: Coach Clay Heltons second game as the Trojans play-caller was good in stretches, but not nearly good enough. His seat is even hotter now, and itll be scorching if the Trojans dont beat UCLA to secure bowl eligibility next week before No. 3 Notre Dame visits after Thanksgiving.
UP NEXT
California: Host Stanford in the 121st Big Game on Nov. 17.
USC: At UCLA in the annual crosstown showdown on Nov. 17.