Kessler’s 3 touchdowns carry Trojans

LOS ANGELES — Cody Kessler threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and Southern California clinched the Pac-12 South title with a 40-21 victory over No. 22 UCLA on Saturday in the 85th edition of their crosstown showdown.

Darreus Rogers and Taylor McNamara caught touchdown passes while the Trojans (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) scored 20 consecutive points in the second half before raising the Victory Bell in the frenzied Coliseum. USC improved to 5-2 under interim Coach Clay Helton and snapped its three-year losing streak in the annual city rivalry game.

USC will face Stanford next Saturday in the Trojans’ first trip to the Pac-12 title game.

Paul Perkins rushed for two touchdowns for the Bruins (8-4, 5-4), who lost to USC for the first time in Coach Jim Mora’s tenure.

Adoree Jackson returned a punt 42 yards for a touchdown shortly before halftime, and Rasheem Green put the Trojans ahead to stay in the third quarter when the freshman defensive lineman returned Josh Rosen’s fumble for a 32yard touchdown.

Rosen passed for 227 yards and threw to Thomas Duarte for an early touchdown, but the touted freshman also threw two second-half interceptions to Iman Marshall.

In another game involving Pac-12 teams, Joe Williams ran for 187 yards and a touchdown as No. 23 Utah closed the regular season with a 20-14 victory over Colorado. The victory gave the Utes (9-3, 6-3) their best Pac-12 finish since joining the league in 2011.