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USC wins Holiday Bowl shootout

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If this is USC with its ranks depleted by NCAA sanctions, imagine what the Trojans will be like when they return to full strength.

For one thing, they may not leave their head coach holding his breath until time has expired on the game clock.

No. 24-ranked USC defeated — survived is more like it — Nebraska 45-42 in a National University Holiday Bowl shootout on a chilly Saturday night before 55,789 at Qualcomm Stadium.

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The Trojans (9-4) had too many offensive weapons — some they may want to share with their defense — while remaining undefeated (4-0-1) in five meetings with the Cornhuskers (9-4).

“We’ve had some excruciating losses,” said USC coach Steve Sarkisian. “To come out tonight and win at the end. ... We always try to make it exciting and entertaining for everybody.

“At the end of the day (holding on to win), that to me is a really cool sign of the character of this team and where we’re headed. ... As hard as it gets and as tough as it gets, we’re at our best.”

USC’s NCAA probation — which limited scholarships to 75 total and signees to 15 each f the past three years — ended in June. The reduced depth brought into question the Trojans’ ability to close out tight games with their defense.

Was it an issue again?

Well, USC led 45-27 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter when the offense went silent. Its work should have been done at that point.

But Nebraska made it 45-34 through three periods with a 65-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. to Jordan Westerkamp. A 15-yard TD run by Armstrong followed by a two-point conversion made it a three-point game with 6:52 remaining.

But the USC defense came up big when the Trojans had to have it, stopping Nebraska on a 4-and-3 with the Cornhuskers 31 yards from a go-ahead touchdown in the final three minutes. USC’s Leon McQuay III made the tackle that turned the ball back to the offense.

Nebraska got the ball back one last time at its own 24-yard line with 17 seconds remaining, moving it to midfield before Armstrong Jr. tried a Hail Mary pass that came down eight yards short of the end zone and was batted away.

“They were everything we thought they would be,” said Nebraska interim coach Barney Cotton. “They were physical and very skilled. Big-play offense and a physical defense.

“I thought it was a good battle out there. It could have went either way at the end. I was really proud of the way our guys fought back out there.”

Nebraska may have felt like it didn’t lose but simply ran out of time. They had the momentum late in the contest.

In fact, the Cornhuskers led 17-10 after the first quarter before USC’s offense kicked into gear with 21 unanswered points.

USC just had a little too much offense to overcome.

There was too much Adoree’ Jackson. The USC freshman is listed as a wide receiver/cornerback. But he had a Holiday Bowl-record 98-yard kickoff return four minutes into the game. Jackson added a 72-yard touchdown reception three minutes into the second half.

On the kick return, Jackson did a flip into the end zone that entertained the fans but drew a celebration penalty from officials. Asked after the game what made him flip, Jackson said: “My dad called me before the game and he told me to do something for him. ... He wasn’t able to make the game. That’s what was going through my mind. Give him something.”

There was too much Cody Kessler. USC’s junior quarterback, who came into the game with a 71 percent completion percentage, completed 23 of 39 passes for 321 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The performance gave him 39 touchdown passes for the season, tying the record held Matt Barkley. Kessler was chosen Offensive MVP for his efforts.

The quarterback said after the game that he will be back for more next season. Although Kessler would be among the top quarterback prospects if he declares for the 2015 NFL Draft, he said: “I’m absolutely coming back.”

Not all of the skill players will be returning with Kessler, but he was fortunate to have them around against Nebraska. Guys like junior running back Javorius Allen, who had 26 carries for 152 yards and two TDs and junior wide receiver Nelson Agholor, who had seven catches for 90 yards and one TD.

Armstrong Jr. did his best to keep the Huskers in the game, completing 32 of 51 passes for 381 yards with three touchdowns and one interceptions. USC was able to get after him much of the game while shutting down Nebraska’s running game.

Highly-regarded Huskers running back Ameer Abduallah was limited to 55 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries through the game’s first three quarters. But Abdullah rallied the Cornhuskers in the fourth quarter, gaining 33 yards to finish with 88 yards for the game.

It was the second Holiday Bowl victory in four years over Nebraska for Sarkisian, who guided Washington to a 19-7 victory over the Cornhuskers in the 2010 game.

USC defensive end Leonard Williams was selected Defensive MVP in a game where the defense took most of the night off. A Holiday Bowl-record 38 points were scored in the third quarter alone.

“We’ve played through a lot of adversity this year,” said Williams. “A lot of ups and downs. Our motto is to fight on, and that’s what we did tonight.”

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