Trojans use big second half to beat Stanford, 45-23
USC FOOTBALL
Outplayed in the first half, No. 6 USC ties it late in second quarter on C.J. Gable's 93-yard kickoff return, then uses a productive running game to pull away after halftime.
Reporting from Palo Alto — C.J Gable returned a kickoff for a touchdown and rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown as sixth-ranked USC pulled away from Stanford in the second half for a 45-23 victory today at Stanford Stadium.
Gable's 93-yard kickoff return late in the second quarter tied the score, 17-17. His three-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave USC a valuable cushion against a Stanford team looking to repeat last year's upset at the Coliseum.
Before a crowd of 50,425, USC improved its record to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference and kept alive its longshot hopes for a berth in the Bowl Championship Series title game.
Stanford suffered its first home loss of the season and fell to 5-6 and 4-4 in conference play.
Gable's electrifying return along the left sideline helped the Trojans go into the locker room at halftime tied, 17-17.
The Trojans gave Stanford an opportunity to get back into the game when fullback Stanley Havili lost a fumble midway through the third quarter at the Cardinal 15-yard line. But Stanford could not capitalize, and the teams exchanged possessions until USC got the ball back at the Cardinal 49 with 4:50 left in the quarter.
Joe McKnight's 23-yard run started a five-play drive that culminated with Stafon Johnson's seven-yard touchdown run off right tackle for a 24-17 lead.
The Trojans got the ball back early in the fourth quarter and Gable keyed a 70-yard scoring drive with gains of 24 and 19 yards before ending it with a three-yard run for a 31-17 lead.
Johnson's 44-yard gain on a third-down play from the Trojans' six-yard line set up Mark Sanchez's 50-yard touchdown pass to Havili for 38-17 lead with 7:35 remaining.
Sanchez completed 11 of 17 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions as the Trojans produced 418 yards. Gable gained his 85 yards rushing in 14 carries. Johnson rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns, also in 14 carries. McKnight added 72 yards in eight carries as the Trojans ended up rushing for 282 yards in 43 attempts.
Stanford running back Toby Gerhart rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown in 23 carries for the Cardinal.
Quarterback Tavita Pritchard completed nine of 22 passes for 111 yards. Alex Loukas was five for five for 54 yards with a touchdown, which came on the game's final play.
