USC hangs on to defeat California, 27-21, at Memorial Stadium

USC’s defense proved itself for a second consecutive week in a 27-21 victory over California on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The Trojans improved to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Bears fell to 5-3 and 2-3.

USC held a three-point lead, 10-7, at halftime before scoring 14 points within 23 seconds in the third quarter.

Tailback Tre Madden rushed for two yards and a touchdown and Adoree’ Jackson made his first career interception and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown, which gave USC a 24-7 lead.

California quarterback Jared Goff led 81-yard and 87-yard scoring drives in the third and fourth quarters to pull the Golden Bears within a touchdown, 27-21, but USC gained two first downs and ran out the clock in its final possession.

Goff completed 19 of 31 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions.

California was held to 117 rushing yards.

USC quarterback Cody Kessler was 18 of 22 for 186 yards.

Freshman tailback Ronald Jones II rushes for 80 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries.

USC 27, California 21 -- Final

USC runs the ball in its final drive to drain the clock and hang on to defeat California, 27-21.

Cody Kessler hands off to Ronald Jones II, who rushes for nine yards in consecutive carries.

Tre Madden, who has been slowed because of a nagging knee injury, makes a clutch play on third and one as he bounces off the pile and is able to give USC a first down.

Like Madden, Davis rushes for seven yards on third and six and that should seal the victory for USC as Adoree’ Jackson shows off his dance moves on the sideline.

USC is in the victory formation.

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USC 27, California 21 -- 3:45 left in the fourth quarter

Jared Goff completes a 29-yard pass to Darius Powe which sets up a nine-yard pass to Stephen Anderson for a California touchdown. With 3:52 to play, USC leads California 27-21. The drive went 87 yards in nine plays.

USC defensive back Jonathan Lockett was called for pass interference to give California 15 yards. USC has committed six penalties for 65 yards.

Khalfani Muhammad rushes 18 yards to put California within striking distance.

Goff completes to quick passes for a Bears touchdown.

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USC punts after Justin Davis is tackled short of a first down. The play call begs the question: Why doesn’t Clay Helton trot out Ronald Jones in third-down situations? The California defense has struggled to stop the freshman.

Right tackle Zach Banner drew his second penalty of the game on the drive when he was called for holding. USC has five penalties for 50 yards.

Cody Kessler completes a 13-yard pass to Jalen Greene on second down, but then Davis is stopped short.

Greene has been impressive in his transition from quarterback to receiver this season.

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California’s offense is sputtering and the Bears go three and out.

USC has limited California to 89 rushing yards and 218 passing yards.

Jared Goff is 19 of 25 for 218 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions.

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USC goes for it on fourth and one and turns the ball over on downs at California’s 30-yard line after Tre Madden is stuffed at the line.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC’s leading receiver, is sidelined for the rest of the game because of a hand injury.

Smith-Schuster caught five passes for 55 yards.

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Cornerback Kevon Seymour intercepts Jared Goff on fourth down for USC’s second interception of the game. The Trojans have the ball on the 50-yard line. Goff is yelling some choice words on the sideine.

Scott Felix makes a big play on third down and tackles Daniel Lasco for a seven-yard loss -- but perhaps there’s a bigger loss for USC: Sua’ Cravens is down and walks off the field favoring his arm.

Goff starts to carve USC’s secondary when he completes and 11-yard pass to Kenny Lawler and a 43-yard pass to Bryce Treggs.

USC’s defense stops running back Daniel Lasco in consecutive carries and Felix makes the stop on third down.

USC 27, California 14 -- 1:37 left in the third quarter.

Alex Wood kicks a career-long 43-yard field goal to give USC a 27-14 lead.

USC is three-of-nine on third down and one of the biggest mysteries of this team remains: Why do they throw short passes that often leave the receiver short of a first down?

Cody Kessler completes a quick pass to Darreus Rogers, who is tackled three yards short.

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USC 24, California 14 -- 5:41 left in the third quarter

California scores its first touchdown since the first quarter as Daniel Lasco rushes six yards into the end zone. The drive covered 81 yards in 10 plays.

California’s offense couldn’t find a rhythm in the second quarter, but after Adoree’ Jackson intercepted Jared Goff, Goff responds.

He completes 21-yard and 18-yard passes to Bryce Treggs.

California picks up 15 yards when safety Chris Hawkins is called for unsportsmanlike conduct. Hawkins took a slug from a California lineman and his retaliation is caught by officials. The penalty moves California to USC’s 20-yard line.

Goff completes a six-yard and eight-yard pass to setup Lasco’s scoring run.

USC 24, California 7 -- 9:23 left in the third quarter

USC scores two touchdowns in 23 seconds after Adoree’ Jackson makes his first career interception and returns it 46 yards for six points.

That’s the big play we’ve all been waiting for from Jackson on defense. He is all smiles on the sideline.

Alex Wood kicks the extra point.

USC 17, California 7 -- 9:46 left in the third quarter

Fourth and goal, tailback Tre Madden rushes for two yards and a touchdown, giving USC a 17-7 lead. The scoring drive went 67 yards in 13 plays.

Darreus Rogers, who has been sidelined and slowed because of a hamstring injury, makes 10-yard and three-yard receptions to start the drive. Rogers is consistently one USC’s most reliable receivers.

Khaliel Rodgers and Cody Kessler are having snap issues. Rodgers is the third-team center and is consistently snapping the ball low.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was questionable in the second half because of a hand injury, is in and Kessler completes an 18-yard pass to him. Smith-Schuster returns to the sideline and is talked to by a trainer.

USC is successfully running on California with consecutive hand offs to Justin Davis and Ronald Jones.

Fourth and two, Kessler hands off to Madden on a power play and he makes it into the end zone.

USC is returning to physical football under Interim Coach Clay Helton.

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The broadcast halftime report states that receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had x-rays on his hand at halftime and he is questionable in the second half.

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USC and California’s numbers at halftime are comparable.

Cody Kessler has completed 11 of 14 passes for 103 yards. Jared Goff has completed 11 of 14 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.

Ronald Jones II has run for 57 yards and a touchdown in six carries for USC. The Trojans have rushed for 87 yards and California has rushed for 76 yards.

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USC 10, California 7 -- seven seconds left in the second quarter

Alex Wood kicks a 22-yard field goal to give USC a 10-7 lead with 11 seconds to play in the first half. The Trojans went 75 yards in 11 plays.

Cody Kessler completes a 26-yard pass to Deontay Burnett. Burnett has been a solid presence on offense since playing against Notre Dame.

Steven Mitchell Jr. makes a five-yard reception and Tre Madden rushes for 11 yards. California’s defense is struggling to keep up with USC’s playmakers.

Smith-Schuster makes a 12-yard reception. He’s caught four passes for 37 yards.

Kessler is sacked for a second time before Ronald Jones rushes for 18 yards to put USC on California’s 12-yard line. Jones takes a monster hit on his next carry and jogs to the sideline.

Third down, Kessler scrambles and his pass to Darreus Rogers in the end zone falls incomplete.

Wood kicks a field goal.

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California quarterback Jared Goff throws his first two incompletions of the game and then pooch punts on fourth down.

Goff is 10-of-12 for 107 yards and a touchdown.

USC’s defense has held the Bears to 76 rushing yards after giving up a couple of long runs in the first quarter.

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USC is moving down the field until freshman Tyler Petite is called for a false start on second down and the drive stalls. Kris Albarado’s punt bounces out of the back of the end zone.

Cody Kessler starts the drive with a deep throw over the middle to JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is double teamed, and the pass falls incomplete.

Kessler completes a seven-yard pass to Taylor McNamara on third down. McNamara is playing through a sore shoulder.

Adoree’ Jackson makes a 13-yard reception. He has two catches for 18 yards.

Tre Madden, who did not play against Utah because of a sore knee, rushes for three yards and eight-yards in consecutive carries.

Kessler rushes for four yards and then a false start by Petite backs USC up.

Kessler is sacked on third down.

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USC’s defense stops the run and forces California and Jared Goff into a three-and out.

On third down, Goff scrambles and rushes for five yards before he is tackled by Delvon Simmons, a yard away from the first down.

California punts and Adoree’ Jackson opts to let it bounce out of bounds.

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USC 7, California 7 -- 13:27 left in the second quarter

Freshman tailback Ronald Jones II rushes for 13 yards and a touchdown to tie the score, 7-7. USC went 63 yards in six plays. Quarterback Cody Kessler is five-of-five for 35 yards.

USC is good for at least one trick play a game from Jalen Greene. Kessler takes a low snap, hands off to Adoree’ Jackson who tosses it to Greene and he completes a 34-yard pass to Deontay Burnett.

Greene to Burnett is a Gardena Serra High connection. .

Steven Mitchell Jr. makes a six-yard reception. Mitchell returns from an ankle injury that kept him sidelined against Notre Dame and Utah.

Justin Davis is struggling to get his legs going and loses three yards on the ensuing play to bring up third and seven. Kessler competes a 12-yard pass to Smith-Schuster, who makes an impressive catch falling out of bounds.

Jones rushes 13 yards for a touchdown, his fifth of the season.

Alex Wood kicks the extra point.

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After allowing an 87-yard touchdown drive, USC’s defense makes a statement and forces California to punt.

Jared Goff completes a 13-yard pass before running backs Daniel Lasco and Khalfani Muhammad fail to gain a first down on combined carries.

Goff is seven-of-seven for 77 yards to start the game.

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California forces USC to punt a second time after Dominic Davis is tackled short of a first down.

Quarterback Kessler competes a three-yard pass and then a 10-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster to start the drive.

Penalties have been an issue for tackle Zach Banner this season and he is flagged for a false start.

Freshman Ronad Jones leads USC in rushing yards and he takes off on an 18-yard carry, blowing past several defenders.

USC stalls after Jones’ is tackled at the line of scrimmage on his second carry, Smith-Schuster rushes for four yards on a reverse and Dominic Davis is tackled short of the first down.

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California 7, USC 0 -- 6:59 left in the first quarter

California quarterback Jared Goff completes a six-yard pass to Bryce Treggs for a touchdown. The scoring drive went 87 yards in 13 plays.

Linebacker Cameron Smith, who did not play in the first series, is on the field for the second.

California is doing a nice job establishing its running game early as carries are traded between Daniel Lasco and Khalfani Muhammad. USC’s defense against the run looks lackluster.

Goff mixes in several completions, a 12-yard pass to Chad Hansen, a 10-yard pass to Trevor Davis and a nine-yard pass to Darius Powe.

Fourth and one on the five-yard line, California goes for it and Goff completes an easy pass to Treggs for a touchdown.

The extra point is good.

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Leon McQuay III recovers a fumble forced by linebacker Lamar Dawson but USC is unable to capitalize and punts.

Interim Coach Clay Helton said last week that Cody Kessler wanted to kickoff to start the game and let the defense make the first statement. That’s what USC stuck with today.

Linebacker Cameron Smith, who made three interceptions last week, is sidelined to start the game.

Smith’s absence on the field is felt on the second play as Jared Goff Goff completes a 22-yard pass to Trevor Davis, Dawson misses the tackle.

However, next play, Dawson forces a fumble and McQuay recovers.

It’s a three-and-out for Kessler and the offense.

USC punts.

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USC returns to Memorial Stadium for the second time in two years with an interim head coach.

In 2013, interim coach Ed Orgeron and the Trojans defeated California, 62-38.

This is season, USC is 1-1 under interim Coach Clay Helton and 4-3 overall.

California, 5-2, hasn’t defeated USC since 2003.

USC announced its starting lineups.

Offense: Quarterback Cody Kessler, tailback Justin Davis, fullback Jahleel Pinner, tight end Taylor McNamara, receivers Jalen Greene and JuJu Smith-Schuster and offensive linemen Chad Wheeler, Damien Mama, Khaliel Rodgers, Viane Talamaivao and Zach Banner.

Defense: Linemen Delvon Simmons, Antwaun Woods and Greg Townsend Jr., linebackers Su’a Cravens, Anthony Sarao, Cameron Smith and Scott Felix, cornerbacks Adoree’ Jackson and Iman Marshall and safeties Chris Hawkins and Leon McQuay III.

Rodgers, a third-year sophomore, makes his first start at center because Max Tuerk and Toa Lobendahn are sidelined after suffering season-ending knee injuries.

Helton said receivers Darreus Rogers and Steven Mitchell Jr. would be game-time decisions because of a hamstring and ankle injury, respectively.

Last week against Utah, Jackson started on offense and played defense sparingly. Helton said this week that Jackson would be needed more on defense because of California quarterback Jared Goff.

Here’s an interesting look at comparisons NFL scouts made between Cody Kessler and Goff.