The Sports Xchange
Nov 21, 2015
EUGENE, Ore. -- Senior quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. passed for 407 yards and six touchdowns to lead No. 23 Oregon to a 48-28 victory over No. 22 USC on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
Adams completed 20-of-25 passes and had scoring passes to six different receivers as Oregon (8-3) improved to 6-2 in the conference with its fifth straight win.
Wide receiver Bralon Addison had five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, while running back Royce Freeman ran for 147 yards on 20 carries.
USC quarterback Cody Kessler threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Justin Davis ran for 141 yards as the Trojans (7-4) had a four-game winning streak snapped to fall to 5-3 in the conference.
Oregon scored first when Adams threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Addison to take a 7-0 lead with 7:25 left in the first quarter.
USC drove 75 yards on 11 plays on its next possession and scored on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Kessler to wide receiver Darreus Rogers to tie the game 7-7 late in the quarter.
On Oregon's next play from scrimmage, Adams threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to tight end Evan Baylis as Oregon took a 14-7 lead with 1:32 left in the first.
USC answered on its next drive when Kessler threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Petite to tie the game 14-14 with 12:13 left in the first half.
Oregon went back into the lead at 21-14 when Adams found wide receiver Darren Carrington for a 37-yard touchdown with 6:35 left in the first half.
Adams added his fourth touchdown pass of the half when he found running back Kani Benoit with a 30-yard pass with 2:39 left in the first half to put Oregon ahead 28-14.
Oregon finished out the first half with a 37-yard field goal by kicker Aidan Schneider to take a 31-14 lead.
Adams was 14-for-17 for 313 yards and four scores in the first half, while Addison had four catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Freeman ran nine times for 84 yards in the half.
Adams led the Ducks into the end zone to start the second half when he found wide receiver Dwayne Stanford for a 21-yard touchdown that put Oregon ahead 38-14.
USC answered when freshman running back Ronald Jones ran 12 yards for a touchdown to get the Trojans within 38-21 with 9:40 left in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Adoree Jackson of USC returned a punt 41 yards for a touchdown that got the Trojans to within 38-28 with 1:35 left in the third quarter.
USC got the ball back, but Kessler was sacked by cornerback Arrion Springs and fumbled the ball, with defensive end DeForest Buckner recovering at USC's 26-yard line.
On the next play, Adams threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Charles Nelson to put the Ducks ahead 45-28.
Schneider added a 22-yard field goal to complete the scoring.
NOTES: Oregon cornerback Chris Seisay, who missed the last eight games because of a leg injury, returned to face the Trojans. ... Oregon and USC both have been ranked for each of the last 10 meetings between the schools. ... The crowd of 59,094 was Oregon's 109th straight sellout.