Notes: UCLA’s win over USC featured several milestones

Brett Hundley celebrates UCLA's 38-20 win over USC on Saturday, a game in which he threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.

Brett Hundley celebrates UCLA’s 38-20 win over USC on Saturday, a game in which he threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.

» I mentioned it in my story from UCLA’s 38-20 win over USC last night, but it’s worth repeating again: For the first time ever, the Bruins’ football program has three straight nine-win seasons.

Several times before, UCLA had gotten close. The Bruins had back-to-back nine-win seasons in the mid-1950s, but those were bracketed by a eight- and seven-win campaigns. Tommy Prothro opened his tenure a decade later with eight, nine and seven wins. And from 1982-88, Terry Donahue had five nine- or 10-win seasons broken up by seven wins in 1983 and eight wins in 1986.

Last month, Jim Mora got particularly defensive about the Bruins’ lackluster midseason performances, and challenged everyone to find a stretch of UCLA football that’s better than this one — considering youth and turnover. With UCLA potentially in line to win 11 games for the first time, his argument looks stronger by the week.

» How much has the rivalry swung? UCLA hasn’t won three straight games over USC by double digits since 1952-55, when Red Sanders coached the Bruins to 13-0, 34-0, and 17-7 victories.

» Brett Hundley finished the game against USC with all types of new UCLA records, passing Cade McNown to become the new career leader in total offensive yards (11,353) and extending his own mark of 300-yard total offense games to 19. He had his 10th career 300-yard passing game, and needs just one more to tie McNown. He ran for his 28th career touchdown, which breaks his tie with John Sciarra and puts him alone in second behind Gary Beban (35) among Bruin quarterbacks.

But despite finishing 22-of-31 for 326 yards and three touchdown passes, it was not an overly impressive game for the redshirt junior. He didn’t see the defender on his early interception near the sideline, and it was the type of coverage that had cost him turnovers before. A lot of his longer passes also benefited from yards after the catch by his receivers, or poor coverage by USC, or both.

It’s clear, however, that he trusts his offensive line more and more — something offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone confirmed after the game. He has good reason. UCLA has allowed 32 sacks this season, but just eight in its last five games. That stretch coincides with when Conor McDermott taking over as starting left tackle.

» The defensive line played its best game of the season, finally generating the type of pass rush that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich had promised would come for most of the season. UCLA entered the game with just 16 sacks on the season, second-to-last in the Pac-12. They tacked on six more against USC, duplicating their production in last year’s rivalry game.

All six of those were credited to the defensive line, with senior defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa getting two. UCLA didn’t bring a lot of extra pressure, but Ulbrich said strong coverage by the secondary and the linebackers gave the four-man front enough time to reach Kessler.

Mora laid out the defensive keys as stopping run, eliminating big plays and getting after the passer. The line set the tone for that, and it trickled down to the rest of the defense. Take out the six sacks that cost Kessler 40 yards, and USC still only rushed for 102 yards on 25 carries — an average of 4.08 yards per carry. The Trojans’ longest run went for just 12 yards. Kessler only had two completions longer than 20 yards.

“I think our defensive line took it a little bit personal,” Mora said. “There was a lot of talk about their defensive line. And they are a great defensive line. That No. 94 (Leonard Williams), he’s a special, special player. But our guys are pretty darn good themselves.”

Added Ulbrich: “I know Owa was looking at this as an opportunity. Here’s a guy that, he’s about to become draft-eligible. … He and the rest of that group took that opportunity to show who they thought was the better defensive line.”

» Linebacker Eric Kendricks, who made his third interception of the season last night, also had 14 tackles. He is just eight away from tying Jerry Robinson’s UCLA career record of 468.

» A couple of injury notes: cornerback Priest Willis was helped off the field after colliding with linebacker Kenny Young, while defensive back Ishmael Adams was limping noticeably on the sideline in the second half. The Bruins did return fullback Nate Iese (shoulder) and running back Nate Starks (knee), who had missed part or all of UCLA’s win at Washington.

» USC’s players huddled at the UCLA midfield logo before the game, which started a bit of trash talk that even Ulbrich and defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin got in on. But overall, there weren’t a lot of extracurriculars throughout the game.

“One of the things I’m most proud of tonight is the way we held it together emotionally,” Mora said. “USC did the exact same thing. That was about as classy a rivalry game as you’re ever gonna find.”

» Before the game, USC’s drum major had already acknowledged being banned from stabbing the field in the Trojans’ pregame show, but receiver Sam Handler ran to midfield anyway as a security measure. The walk-on tore his ACL in training camp and has not played this season.

» The internet was already abuzz with this during the game, but UCLA’s face paint was out of control last night. Whatever pumps up 19-year-olds, I guess.