Slovis' 4 TD Passes Lead USC Past Cal, 41-17
BERKELEY (AP) -- Kedon Slovis completed 29 of 35 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns against one of the Pac-12's top pass defenses, leading Southern California to a 41-17 victory over Cal on Saturday night.
Slovis threw touchdown passes on the final drive of the first half for the Trojans (7-4, 6-2 Pac-12) and the opening drive of the third quarter to keep USC in the race for the Pac-12 South title. The Trojans are a half-game behind Utah but holds the tiebreaker based on a head-to-head win.
The Golden Bears (5-5, 2-5) had no answer for Slovis and USC's talented group of receivers and lost for the fifth time in six games. After entering the day allowing a conference-low nine touchdown passes on the season, Cal was picked apart by Slovis.
Michael Pittman Jr. had 11 catches for 180 yards and a TD and Drake London added six catches for 111 yards and a score.
Slovis connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown to cap USC's opening drive and then helped the Trojans break open a tie game with his TDs surrounding halftime.
He also connected on a 33-yard touchdown to Pittman on a third-and-12 in the final minute of the first half to make it 17-10. He then threw a 50-yard pass to St. Brown on the opening drive of the third quarter, setting up an 8-yard TD pass to London to make it a 14-point game.
THE TAKEAWAY
USC: The Trojans have bounced back from a blowout loss at home to Oregon by beating Arizona State and Cal on the road the past two weeks. But they will still need Utah to lose to either Arizona or Colorado to have a shot at making the Pac-12 title game.
California: The Bears were hoping to get a boost from the return of quarterback Chase Garbers, who missed the past four games with a right shoulder injury. Garbers led a TD drive to start the game but then left the game in the second quarter after appearing to hurt his left shoulder on a keeper. Garbers finished 4 for 10 for 33 yards and Cal was unable to move the ball consistently under Devon Modster either. The Bears need to win one of their final two games against Stanford and UCLA to become bowl eligible.
SCARY MOMENT
Cal linebacker Evan Tattersall was taken off the field on a stretcher and taken to the hospital after being hit in the head on kickoff coverage. Tattersall was running down on coverage when USC linebacker Juliano Falaniko appeared to lower his helmet and hit Tattersall. Falaniko immediately signaled for trainers to come on the field before the play was even over as Tattersall was down on the field.
Tattersall remained down for several minutes as players and coaches from both teams kneeled out of concern. He was strapped to a board and gave a thumbs up before being taken off on a cart. Cal said Tattersall was alert and has movement in his extremities. He was taken to the hospital out of precaution.
TARGETING
USC lost defensive end Christian Rector on the opening drive for targeting on a hit against Cal running back Christopher Brown Jr. Brown didn't return to the game but the Bears scored on DeShawn Collins' 5-yard run on the next play.
UP NEXT
USC: Host UCLA on Saturday.
California: Visit Stanford on Saturday.
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