LOS ANGELES - Steven Mitchell and DeontayBurnett caught two touchdown passes apiece from Sam Darnold, and No. 6 Southern California extended its winning streak to 11 games with a 42-24 victory over No. 14 Stanford on Saturday night.
Darnold went 21 of 26 with 316 yards passing for the Trojans (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12), who snapped their three-game losing streak in this California private-school rivalry.
Ronald Jones II rushed for 116 yards and scored a touchdown in his ninth consecutive game, running the ball for 307 yards and controlling both lines of scrimmage. Turnovers and penalties by the Trojans kept it fairly close, but freshman Stephen Carr added 119 yards rushing, and Jones cartwheeled into the end zone with a clinching 23-yard touchdown run with 4:15 to play.
Keller Chryst passed for 172 yards and two touchdowns, while Bryce Love had a 75-yard touchdown run among his 160 yards rushing for the Cardinal.
ONE PLAY, 75 YARDS. @Blovee_20 with the quick answer. Tie ballgame.
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) September 10, 2017
??: @FOXSports #GoStanford #BeatSC pic.twitter.com/CChsoE0bjK
After a scoreless third quarter, USC made a 90-yard scoring drive capped by Mitchell's second touchdown on a feathery 11-yard touchdown pass by Darnold with 9:42 to play. Stanford stayed close with JJ Arcega-Whiteside's touchdown catch with 6:41 to play, but Jones' incredible second touchdown run capped a smooth 75-yard drive in USC's 11th consecutive win at the Coliseum.
AGAIN! Quick Cardinal drive ends with another big catch from @jjarcega_22.
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) September 10, 2017
??: @FOXSports #BeatSC pic.twitter.com/VL9BTRIKcX
Stanford had won eight of its last 11 meetings with USC in a dominant stretch that began with its historic 2007 upset victory at the Coliseum.
After USC scored 49 points in its season opener, Darnold's offense again was in fine form from the start. USC scored four touchdowns on five lengthy drives in the first half, with Darnold hitting Burnett for two of his three touchdown passes.
USC moved 74 yards on two plays late in the half to take a 28-17 lead on Burnett's leaping 25-yard touchdown grab.