The top-ranked, 4-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach Pete Carroll welcomed the 7th ranked, 3-0 California Golden Bears of coach Jeff Tedford to the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Golden Bears were 2-time Belt champions & were the last team to defeat the Trojans, winning 34-31 in triple-overtime the previous season. The Trojans were riding a 13-game winning streak & had beat California in their two previous Belt match-ups. Southern Cal survived an outstanding defense performance by the Golden Bears & furious final drive led by All-Pac 10 QB Aaron Rodgers for a 23-17 victory. California saw their opening drive come to a quick end when Southern Cal’s RB Desmond Reed tackled Golden Bears’ P David Lonie after the punter mishandled a low snap giving the Trojans the ball at the Cal 31-yard line. Southern Cal’s Heisman Trophy winning, All-American QB Matt Leinart went to work hitting 5 of 7 passes on the 9-play scoring drive. Leinart hit RB LenDale White on the 5-yard touchdown pass as Southern Cal took a 7-0 lead. Cal’s next drive was stopped on by a 4th down fumble by Rodgers that was recovered by Trojans’ All-Pac 10 DT Mike Patterson. Seven plays later, Southern Cal had a 10-0 lead after the 31-yard field goal from PK Ryan Killeen. The Golden Bears were finally able to hold on to the ball long enough to get a 39-yard field goal from PK Tom Schneider. Things got even worse for California when CB Tim Mixon fumbled a punt & Trojans’ CB Eric Wright recovered for Southern Cal at the Cal 16-yard line. The Trojans could not move the ball & settled for a 33-yard field goal from Killeen giving them a 13-3 advantage. Rodgers finally got the Golden Bears offense rolling with a 9-play, 80-yard drive resulting in a 20-yard touchdown pass to All-Pac 10 WR Geoff McArthur. With 1:37 left in the half, Leinart was still able to drive the Trojans to the Cal 24-yard line setting up a 42-yard field goal from Killeen as Southern Cal took a 16-10 lead to the locker room. To open the 2nd half, Leinart hit 3 of 4 passes with WR Dwayne Jarrett making the catch on the 16-yard touchdown pass for a 23-10 Southern Cal lead. The Golden Bears seemed to settle down at halftime & Rodgers directed a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by RB Marshawn Lynch scoring on a 2-yard run. Trojans’ All-Pac 10 RB Reggie Bush returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards to the California 16-yard line but Golden Bears’ CB Harrison Smith intercepted a Leinart pass at the goal line keeping the Trojans from adding to their lead. On the first play of the 4th quarter, Rodgers’ second fumble of the game gave the ball back to Southern Cal but their failed 4th down conversion kept the Golden Bears’ hopes alive. California then drove 52 yards but Schneider’s 36-yard field goal attempt was wide right. The Golden Bears’ defense forced a punt & Rodgers had 4:31 to travel 65 yards for the go-ahead score. Rodgers scrambled for 14 yards to open the drive & completed his next pass to WR Burl Toler for a 2-yard gain. Rodgers hit McArthur for an 11-yard gain & a first down at the Southern Cal 49-yard line. California’s All-American RB J.J. Arrington got 11 yards on the next snap for another first down & his 1-yard run gave the Golden Bears a 2 & 9 at the Southern Cal 26-yard line. Rodgers then hit McArthur for 17 yards as the Golden Bears now had the ball at the Southern Cal 9-yard line with 1:47 to play. After an incomplete pass, Trojans’ DT Manuel Wright sacked Rodgers for a 5-yard loss. Facing 3rd & goal from the Southern Cal 14-yard line, Rodgers’ pass for McArthur fell incomplete & the Golden Bears called their final timeout with 1:21 to play. On 4th & goal from the 14-yard line Rodgers tried again to hit McArthur but as the receiver made his cut, he appeared to slip slightly & the pass missed his outstretched hands. Southern Cal had the 23-17 win to extend their win streak as well as their Belt reign. The Cal defense had held the explosive Trojans offense to 41 yards rushing & 164 yards passing while the offense used 37:11 time of possession to dominate the box score in all aspects except points. Leinart finished with 164 yards passing with his 2 touchdowns but he did throw an interception & was sacked 4 times. Rodgers finished completing 29 of 34 passes for 267 yards with a touchdown but he was sacked 5 times & fumbled twice. Arrington had 112 yards rushing & McArthur added 7 catches for 101 yards to his score. Southern Cal finished the season 13-0; Pac 10 Champions & National Champions while the Golden Bears finished 10-2 & ranked 9th nationally. California would play for The Belt again in 2005.
Pickin' Splinters
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