Trojans beat Fighting Irish in a Classic

Quarterback Matt Leinart beats Notre Dame in the final seconds.

USC defeated Notre Dame yesterday in the most dramatic and exciting college football game I’ve ever watched. Led by their two studs, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, Southern California showed that they could come back when on the ropes and beat a good football team.

First year head coach Charlie Weis had Pro Football Hall of Famer and Notre Dame alumnus Joe Montana attend Friday night's pep rally, and it seemed to have been a great idea. Weis also had his team wear their good-luck green uniforms on Saturday too. Both ideas came just seconds away from working.

Leinart dove and then spun into the end zone with just a few seconds left to give the Number 1 team in the country its 28th straight win, 34-31 over a gritty and determined Number 9 Notre Dame. But before that spectacular ending there was more. After Leinart led the Trojans down the field leading to another Reggie Bush touchdown run the Fighting Irish, led by quarterback Brady Quinn, marched down the field to retake the lead 31-28 with just 2:02 remaining. The Trojans looked like they had lost but on 4th down and 9 Leinart hit Dwayne Jarrett in stride for a 61-yard pass play. Then on 2nd down inside the 5 yard line Leinart scrambled and dove toward the end zone. Several Notre Dame defenders stopped last years Heisman Trophy winner short of the goal line and the ball was actually fumbled out of bounds.

The next thirty seconds were strange. The game clock showed zeroes and many of Notre Dame's fans rushed onto the field to start their celebration. But seven seconds were left in the game and the ball was placed a foot and a half from the goal line. Looking like USC would play it safe and down or spike the ball to kick a field goal, many were shocked when Leinart went with the quarterback sneak. Twisting and falling into the end zone USC had pulled off an incredible come-from-behind win.

Leinart wasn’t the only player who played big in the big game. Bush was amazing. The super sophomore ran for 160 yards on 15 carries with three touchdowns for the two-time defending champions. He’s one of the best college running backs that I can remember watching. Irish quarterback Brady Quinn also had a great game, finishing with 264 yards passing on 19-for-35 and he used his legs to scramble and open up the Trojan defense. USC’s high-powered offense came into the game averaging 51 points a contest, but Notre Dame’s defense pressured Leinart all day and intercepted him twice.

Southern Cal head coach Pete Carroll said that yesterday’s game was the best game in this great run for his team. I couldn’t agree more. It was the best college football game I’ve ever watched.