Cal defense can’t hold back USC ground attack

LOS ANGELES — Fresh off a double-overtime night game, the Cal football team hit the road, on a short week, to face an opponent — USC — which was coming off a bye.

Not exactly a recipe for success.

USC, playing on 12 days rest, looked the fresher team Thursday night, gaining 629 yards on offense in a 45-24 win at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Running back Ronald Jones II had 223 yards and a touch-

down as the Trojans ripped through the Bears for 398 yards on the ground. The Trojans (5-3, 4-2 Pac-12) set up quarterback Sam Darnold with a strong running game, and Darnold threw five touchdown passes for the second straight week.

Cal (4-4, 2-4) quarterback Davis Webb passed for 333 yards and two touchdowns, but the Bears fell behind 21-0 and could not catch up. Chad Hansen, Cal’s top receiver, missed his second consecutive game with an ankle injury.

Darnold threw for 231 yards, with Darreus Rogers making six catches for a career-high 97 yards. Aca’Cedric Ware contributed a careerhigh 130 yards rushing to USC’s total.

USC (5-3, 4-2 Pac-12) scored on three of its first four possessions, with Darnold finding Rogers, Jones and Deontay Burnett for touchdowns. Rogers added a second touchdown catch with 28 seconds left, but two fumbles by Darnold allowed Cal (4-4, 2-3) to maintain a modicum of hope despite allowing 451 yards on 46 plays in the first half. The victory was USC’s fourth in a row. USC has reasserted itself as a factor in the Pac-12 South division race, though it remains behind Utah and Colorado.

Webb threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns, throwing a ball up for grabs that was intercepted by safety Marvell Tell in the first quarter. Webb also rushed for a touchdown in the third quarter that cut USC’s lead to 28-17 before Jones had a 37-yard touchdown run, and Daniel Imatorbhebhe caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Darnold.

Jones had 149 yards on eight first-half carries, as the sophomore broke out of a funk with starter Justin Davis (ankle) not in uniform.

Down 21-0 and the Trojans driving for a fourth score, Cal turned in its first big play of the game when defensive end Davonte Wilson sacked and stripped Darnold while he was attempting a pass; Cal defensive tackle James Looney recovered the ball and took it to USC’s 22-yard line.

Two plays later, Webb completed a 22yard pass to Tre Watson for a touchdown, and the Bears were on the board, though trailing, 21-7.

Cal caught another break on USC’s next possession when Wilson recovered a fumbled snap by Darnold at the Cal 19. Two receptions of 23 and 32 yards by Demetris Robertson and a 24-yard run by Khalfani Muhammad helped the Bears reach the USC 9, but Cal had to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Matt Anderson.

USC scored the first time it touched the ball on an eight-play, 88yard drive that was culminated by Darnold’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Rogers. A 61-yard run by Ronald Jones II on the Trojans’ first play from scrimmage ignited the drive.

The Trojans’ second possession was equally as impressive, marching 95 yards on nine plays before scoring on a 16-yard touchdown pass by Darnold to Jones II. Jones II took a screen pass on the right side and found himself all alone as he ran untouched into the end zone.

USC’s third scoring drive was set up by a 32yard pun return by Adoree’ Jackson to the Cal 28. Five plays later, Darnold rolled to his right and found Deontay Burnett for a 13-yard touchdown reception with 12:07 left in the first half.