USC turns on memory drive

PALO ALTO — The stadium was different, but the feeling was hauntingly familiar.

At least for a while.

Much of Saturday's game between sixth-ranked USC and Stanford stirred memories of last season when the Cardinal pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college football history at the Coliseum.

"It felt that way at first," USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga said of a game that was tied late in the third quarter on Saturday.

USC avoided a similar finish, and elimination from Bowl Championship Series title-game consideration, by asserting itself defensively in the second half.

Perhaps more important, the Trojans turned to their running backs and offensive line en route to a 45-23 victory before 50,425 at Stanford Stadium.

After looking spotty and playing to a 17-17 tie in the first half, USC regrouped and scored 28 unanswered points before the Cardinal managed a touchdown on the final play.

"Everybody always wants everything to look exactly like it's supposed to, but it doesn't," Coach Pete Carroll said. "You have to return, hopefully, to who you are and we did tonight."

USC's seventh consecutive victory improved its record to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference. It also kept the Trojans in the mix for the Rose Bowl and sustained their longshot bid to reach the BCS title game.

C.J. Gable returned a kickoff 93 yards for a game-tying touchdown in the second quarter and also rushed for a touchdown in the fourth, combining with Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight to pace a running game that amassed 282 yards.

But it was far from a masterpiece for the Trojans, who stumbled on offense and defense throughout the first 30 minutes and gave away a fumble midway through the third quarter before taking control and sending the Cardinal to its first home defeat this season.

Consider:

Stanford drove 80 yards on its first possession, outgained the Trojans, 210-90, in the first half, and amassed 367 yards in the game, the most surrendered by USC this season.

Running back Toby Gerhart and quarterback Tavita Pritchard broke off long runs to set up touchdowns that helped the Cardinal build a 17-10 lead.

USC's defense had given up only 13 points in its last five games combined.

As was the case in their loss at Oregon State on Sept. 25, the Trojans missed multiple tackles.