September 23, 1978
Southern Cal at Alabama
The 7th ranked, 2-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson traveled to Birmingham to battle the top-ranked, 2-0 Alabama Crimson Tide of coach Paul “Bear” Bryant in the rematch of their epic 1977 contest when Alabama took The Belt with a 21-20 victory over the Trojans. Alabama brought a 12-game winning streak along with The Belt to battle the previous champion. Southern Cal’s All-American RB Charles White rushed for 199 yards including a 40-yard touchdown in the 1st quarter & All-Pac 10 WR Kevin Williams caught 2 touchdown passes to lead the 10 ½-point underdog Trojans to a 24-14 upset which returned The Belt to Los Angeles. Things did not start the way Southern Cal had planned though as the Trojans drove 73 yards to the Alabama 2-yard line but White’s fumble was recovered by Alabama’s All-SEC S Murray Legg keeping the game scoreless. White made up for his miscue on the next series with his 40-yard touchdown run on Southern Cal’s famed “Student Body Right” sweep that gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead. A field goal from Southern Cal’s PK Frank Jordan made the score 10-0 & the Trojans’ defense used a solid goal-line stand to keep the Crimson Tide out of the end zone in the 1st half. In the 3rd quarter another White fumble, the second recovered by Legg, gave the Crimson Tide the ball at the Southern Cal 42-yard line. A 42-yard touchdown run through the middle of the Southern Cal defense by Alabama’s RB Major Ogilvie followed as the Crimson Tide closed to within a field goal at 10-7 early in the 3rd quarter. Early in the 4th quarter, Southern Cal took advantage of a short punt which gave the Trojans possession of the ball at the Alabama 39-yard line. Southern Cal got the touchdown on a 6-yard pass from QB Paul McDonald to Williams pushing the Trojans’ lead to 17-7 with 11:15 left in the game. Southern Cal effectively put the game out of reach when McDonald connected with Williams on a 40-yard touchdown pass which was tipped into Williams’ hands by Alabama’s CB Don McNeal. A 41-yard touchdown pass from the Crimson Tide’s QB Jeff Rutledge to TE Bart Krout with 7:10 to play closed the scoring. Alabama had chances to score again but RB Tony Nathan’s fumble was recovered by Southern Cal’s S Ronnie Lott at the Southern Cal 12-yard line with 3:26 to play. The Crimson Tide’s final threat ended when Southern Cal’s S Dennis Smith intercepted Rutledge inside the Trojans’ 10-yard line. McDonald finished with 113 yards passing with 2 touchdowns but an interception while the Trojans’ defense forced 6 turnovers. Rutledge threw for 119 yards with a touchdown but 4 interceptions in the loss. Alabama finished the season 11-1; SEC Champions & National Champions while the Trojans finished 12-1, Pac-10 Champions, ranked 2nd nationally. Alabama would play for The Belt again in 1983.
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