USC's Late Field Goal Knocks Off Stanford 13-10

Stanford and USC played a low-scoring, defensive first-half, with the Cardinal clinging to a 10-7 lead heading into the locker room.

Full First Half Recap

Stanford forced a three-and-out on the first possession of the half, quickly setting up the offense after Ty Montgomery returned the punt to the Trojans 30 yard line.

The Cardinal offense once again stalled in the redzone and then missed a 26-yard field goal - their second miss of the game.

With the Cody Kessler and the USC offense struggling to move the ball, the Trojans defense stopped Stanford on a fourth and one attempt inside their own five yard line, keeping the Trojans within three points late in the third quarter.

That set up USC with its biggest play of the game, a 50 yard run by Allen to get the Trojans into Stanford territory.

Kessler and the USC offense had some redzone struggles of their own, settling for a game-tying field goal with a minute to go in the third quarter, but the defense came up big again, recovering a fumble at their own 30 to stop Stanford's ensuing drive.

There was controversy late in the third quarter, when USC's Hayes Pullard was ejected from the contest, prompting athletic director Pat Haden to come down to the field between quarters to argue the officials' decision.

Stanford scored a go-ahead touchdown minutes later, only to have it erased by an illegal blocking penalty which effectively took the offense out of field goal range.

USC took the lead with a 53-yard field goal with under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter, forcing Stanford to play from behind for the first time since being down 7-0.

The USC defense held strong once again, slamming the door on Stanford with a fumble recovery at their own 20-yard line to end the game and push the Trojans to a 2-0 start.

Stanford hosts Army next week, while USC travels to Boston College.