Thompson-Robinson leads UCLA past USC 62-33

Dorian Thompson-Robinson romped through the Coliseum finish zone throughout the second quarter and looked up to see a youthful fan in Southern California gear holding out a UCLA hat and a pen.

On a working day when the Bruins quarterback seized just about each and every option, he celebrated his landing with an impromptu autograph.

“When you see a child just handing you a hat and a pen, you’ve got just acquired to,” Thompson-Robinson mentioned. “2nd mother nature is to just seize it. I was happy to make that kid’s working day.”

Now that’s a signature acquire for the fourth-calendar year quarterback and his Bruins, who are emphatically on major again in Los Angeles’ crosstown showdown.

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Thompson-Robinson handed for 349 yards and 4 touchdowns though dashing for two more scores, and UCLA reclaimed the Victory Bell with a 62-33 victory in excess of USC on Saturday.

Kazmeir Allen made two TD catches and returned a kickoff 100 yards for an additional rating in the highest-scoring general performance at any time by the Bruins (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) in 91 editions of the town rivalry sport.

Kyle Philips also caught two TD passes as UCLA conquer the Trojans for the to start with time considering that 2018 and received at the Coliseum for just the 2nd time considering that 1997. The Bruins’ 62 details tied the document for the most at any time authorized in USC’s storied football record.

“It indicates all the things,” Thompson-Robinson reported. “They experienced our tails the past two occasions we played, and to genuinely cling it up on them this time and get that win out on their turf implies anything exclusive.”

The Bruins romped with a prosperity of large offensive performs — which include 11 that went much more than 20 yards, a record less than coach Chip Kelly — largely designed by Thompson-Robinson, who defeat the Trojans as a starter for the first time in his four-yr UCLA job with an afternoon of brilliance.

Thompson-Robinson capped the victory with an additional cathartic minute on his 2nd TD operate with 3:47 to play. He gracefully hurdled a USC tackler on the way in, considerably to his teammates’ utter delight.

“We must have expected it, ‘cause he’s often making an attempt to hurdle an individual, you know?” Philips claimed. “But then he basically cleared the man. The complete sideline went crazy just ’cause it lastly took place. We have been waiting for it to occur. He’s been striving so very long.”

Thompson-Robinson rebounded from throwing interceptions on his to start with two passes to go 16 for 22. He has just five 300-property passing game titles in his up-and-down career, but 3 had been from USC.

Even though he regretted his unsportsmanlike perform penalty for his unplanned autograph session, Thompson-Robinson epitomized this celebratory afternoon for a software that is last but not least observing some modest fruits from its large-profile financial investment in Kelly just about four yrs back. UCLA is headed to its to start with bowl sport due to the fact 2017, and this decisive victory will have pounds among alumni and in recruiting.

“We’re about finishing off, currently being resilient, and which is the issue that I’m most amazed with right now, regardless of how a lot of points were being on the board,” Kelly said.

Jaxson Dart passed for 325 yards with two interceptions in the freshman’s debut start off for USC (4-6, 3-5), which has shed 4 of five in the last months of interim mentor Donte Williams’ tenure.

“I experience like I skipped a whole lot, and I wasn’t equipped to occur out with a gain,” claimed Dart, who went 27 for 47.

Vavae Malepeai rushed for a profession-ideal a few touchdowns and Gary Bryant Jr. had 9 catches for 161 yards and a rating, but USC’s protection yielded 609 overall yards in the Trojans’ fourth reduction in their very last 5 games at the Coliseum.

“It sounds like the very same aged story each individual time, but we’re just not actively playing alongside one another,” USC centre Brett Neilon reported. “It really is in particular frustrating because I charge like we can do it. We have the items and the talent. Just feels like we are banging our heads from the wall.”

Keen ON ALLEN

Along with Thompson-Robinson’s heroics, the Bruins received a gorgeous breakout activity from Allen, the operating back again/receiver hybrid who previously experienced only 13 receptions and two TDs this year.

UCLA was down 3- when it bought its very first TD on a 45-garden capture by an untouched Allen. USC also failed to lay a hand on Allen midway by the next quarter on his 58-property TD capture — and he returned a kickoff for a further thrilling score late in the third quarter when USC experienced trimmed the Bruins’ deficit to 9 factors.

THE TAKEAWAY

UCLA: In beating their archrivals with an fascinating crew that now has a chance at an higher-tier bowl video game, the Bruins are ultimately exactly where a lot of supporters come to feel they really should have been in 2018 — the yr Kelly was employed. That’s probably ample to get a deal extension for the veteran coach, but UCLA could use two extra wins this season to boost its momentum.

USC: Playing 2 1/2 months without having a long lasting head coach could not have been the very best strategy. The Trojans have their fourth six-loss season in the earlier ten years immediately after hitting that low just 4 periods in the past 20 many years. The Trojans should complete 2- versus BYU and California to stay clear of the program’s next 7-decline period considering the fact that 2000.

UP Upcoming

UCLA: Host Cal on Saturday night time.

USC: Host BYU on Saturday evening.