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UCLA Pulls Off Shocker Against No. 2 USC
Adam Heater, left, and Michael Pitre of the UCLA Bruins celebrate their 13-9 win over the USC Trojans on Saturday.
(Robert Laberge - Getty Images)
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"Their offensive line was real wide-eyed," UCLA defensive end Bruce Davis said. "People said we're small. That's all right. We were big enough to knock Booty on the ground."
Jarrett said his timing was affected by the Bruins' pass rush.
"They did a great job or switching up their defensive schemes and bringing pressure," he said.
Minutes after the game, and with a crowd of 90,266 still roaring, UCLA's Junior Taylor, Chris Markey and Dennis Keyes jumped the bandstand, grabbed cheerleaders' megaphones and led the delirious fans in cheering for the upstart Bruins.
Patrick Cowan passed for 114 yards and ran for another 55 as UCLA paved the way for a Michigan-Ohio State rematch or an Ohio State-Florida matchup for the national championship Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.
As Pac-10 champions, the Trojans will return to this same field on New Year's Day and play in the Rose Bowl game. The final BCS standings and bowl pairings will be announced Sunday.
The Trojans moved into position for a potential game-winning touchdown before Eric McNeal deflected and then made a diving interception of Booty's pass at the UCLA 20-yard line with 1:10 remaining. It was USC's only turnover of the game.
"What a great way to go out in your senior year playing your last game in the Rose Bowl," Dorrell said. "To finish your last game with an interception like that ... I'm sure he'll tell his kids someday how it ended and how he made the stop."
The Trojans got one final shot, but Booty's desperation pass from the USC 12 with six seconds left fell incomplete, and the celebration was on.
No. 1 Ohio State locked up its berth in the BCS title game by beating then-No. 2 Michigan 42-39 two weeks ago in the regular-season finale for both teams. USC moved ahead of the Wolverines in the BCS standings last weekend after beating Notre Dame 44-24.
Florida beat Arkansas 38-28 Saturday night in the SEC championship game.
"I really hate it for the seniors more than anybody," said Booty, a fourth-year junior. "The Rose Bowl is still a big-time game we are glad to be in that and we're going to play our hearts out in that as well. But it is tough when you know what could have been."
