The UCLA and USC football teams are coming off of two different types of victories. The No. 7 ranked Bruins edged Virginia 28-20 while the No. 15 rated Trojans dismantled Fresno State 52-13. The Bruins will host Memphis at 7 p.m. at the Rose Bowl on Saturday and the Trojans travel to Palo Alto to battle the No. 11 ranked Stanford Cardinal at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. ABC will televise the USC game.
The Bruins relied on their defense to beat a good Virginia team. The defense was led by the Walter Camp defensive player of the week linebacker Eric Kendricks. Kendricks made a team high 16 tackles (five solo) and he forced one fumble and returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown. UCLA defense was responsible for 21 of their 28 points.
The Bruins Heisman Trophy candidate, quarterback Brett Hundley was 20-33 for 242 yards and he scored on a six yard run in the third quarter. UCLA’s biggest problem last Saturday was its offensive line. Hundley was running for his life the whole game and the running backs gained only 116 yards on 39 carries.
At the Coliseum last Saturday the USC running backs ran for 277 yards and the Trojan quarterback, Cody Kessler threw for 394 yards in three quarters. Kessler hit 10 different receivers and six different players carried the ball.
“We had a lot of guys making plays,” Nelson Agholor said after the game. Agholor had five catches for 57 yards and two touchdowns.
The Trojan’s defense, led by defensive lineman Leonard Williams and linebacker Hayes Pullard dominated the Bulldogs but the biggest surprise was the play of some of the true freshmen. Receiver JuJu Smith, linemen Toa Lobendahn, Damien Mama and Viane Talamaiva, receiver/cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and tight end Bryce Dixon stepped up big for the Trojans.
“We come out and play as a unit but Cody drives the car,” Javorius Allen said. Allen gained 133 yards on 22 carries and caught one pass for 23 yards.
Whoever drives the car on Saturday against Stanford needs to hold on tight because it might be a bumpy ride, but the Trojans have the talent to beat the Cardinal on the farm.
