PASADENA – As the seconds ticked down, a UCLA cheerleader scrambled atop a table on the floor of the Rose Bowl and proclaimed, “We are expunging evil from Los Angeles!”
Well, that can't happen with a football game . . . not even one of the biggest upsets of the season.
But if you've been on Westwood's side of the nation's top crosstown rivalry the last seven years, you can understand the sentiment.
DANNY MOLOSHOK / Associated Press
John David Booty (arms folded) and the USC offense watch the clock run out on their hopes for a national championship.
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Southern Cal has annually whipped UCLA en route to two national championships and 58 wins in the Pete Carroll era.
Another win yesterday and USC was headed to its third straight national championship game.
“No more of this dynasty talk,” Bruins defensive end Bruce Davis said after UCLA derailed the Trojans express 13-9. “Dynasty done. The only bad thing about this is that they're going to be back on our home field for the Rose Bowl.
“But they aren't the champions of Los Angeles. We beat them. Dynasty over.”
Trojans out.
The national championship will now be determined in a Ohio State-Michigan rematch, although Florida partisans can make the argument that the Gators should be involved.
UCLA 13, USC 9
THE GAME: UCLA holds powerful USC scoreless in the second half to earn the victory and L.A. bragging rights.
THE AFTERMATH: The loss is a devastating one to the Trojans, who are knocked out of the national title picture.
MAKING THEIR CASE
No. 3 Michigan (11-1): The Wolverines must hope voters aren't swayed by two thoughts: That another quality Florida win is better than a bye, and the voters don't care to see a rematch with Ohio State.
No. 4 Florida (12-1): Was the Gators' victory yesterday over Arkansas enough to vault them over Michigan? Body of work is there, but there's a history by voters of not rewarding great seasons by SEC teams.
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USC will be back in Pasadena on New Year's Day, probably hosting Louisiana State. And UCLA will be facing Florida State in San Francisco's Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27. That's all a 7-5 team deserves, which is what the Bruins are.
USC went into yesterday's 76th meeting a prohibitive two-touchdown favorite. The Trojans were ranked second in the land, owned a 10-1 record and were riding an NCAA-record streak of scoring 20 or more points in 63 straight games.
Gone. Gone. And gone.
“Unbelievable,” said Bruins head coach Karl Dorrall. “I know how important this win is for the Bruin family. There is nothing like this game. It was electric.”
Certainly, a shocker for the Trojans.
“We didn't anticipate having that much of a problem,” admitted Carroll. “UCLA made it a very difficult day for us. They kept us from doing what we normally do. We just weren't able to get enough rhythm. To get rolling, you have to have rhythm.”
The Bruins did keep Trojans quarterback John David Booty dancing. And UCLA took away USC's secret weapon – the short-yardage conversion.
Over the season, USC has turned nearly 50 percent of its third-down plays into first downs. And when the Trojans have gone for the yards on fourth down, they have converted 67 percent of the time.
Yesterday, the Bruins stopped USC the first five times it had a third-down opportunity and stuffed the Trojans two of the three times they went for the yards on fourth down.
“There's some arrogance to USC,” said UCLA cornerback Rodney Van. “Once they cross midfield, they believe it's four-down territory. They're not going to punt. They're going to score. They really believe that. And they believe any time it's third-or fourth-and-short, they're going to run for the yards.
“We knew coming in we had to stop them at their game. And we did.”
UCLA served notice on USC's first possession when tailback Chauncey Washington was stopped for nothing on a fourth-and-1 at the UCLA 31.
And members of the Bruins secondary made two great plays in the fourth quarter to turn the Trojans away on the UCLA side of the field.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, USC went for the yards on a fourth-and-2 at the Bruins 36. Freshman corner Alterraun Verner dropped the sweeping C.J. Gable 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Still, it looked as if the Trojans were going to pull it out in the waning minutes. Starting from his 29 with just under six minutes to play, Booty drove the Trojans to a third-and-4 at the UCLA 18 with 75 seconds remaining.
Booty aimed a pass toward his left flat. But blitzing Bruins linebacker Eric McNeal leaped as he saw Booty throwing. McNeal batted the ball into the air, spun and caught it while diving – the interception crushing USC's BCS hopes.
Offensively, the Bruins were paced by a quarterback who almost lost his job earlier in the week. And the only reason Patrick Cowan rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown in a 91-yard, first-quarter drive is USC's defensive pressure had taken away everything else.
“When they are all over you like that,” said Cowan, “It does create some opportunities.”
Bill Center: (619) 293-1851; bill.center@uniontrib.com
