USC vs. Stanford: live game report

Stanford 21, USC 14 (final score)

The 21st-ranked Cardinal shut down the Trojans’ vaunted offense, picking off two passes by Matt Barkley and keeping the senior quarterback to only 20-of-41 passing for 253 yards and no touchdowns on Saturday evening at Palo Alto.

Stanford also rushed for 200 yards while holding USC to 23 and Josh Nunes, the quarterback who replaced Andrew Luck, completed 14 of 31 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

Stanford 21, USC 14 (10:20 left in fourth quarter)

The Cardinal, thanks mostly to quarterback Josh Nunes, has taken the lead over the Trojans.

Nunes had an 11-yard completion to Ty Montgomery for a first down early in their 10-play, 79-yard scoring drive and on a key third-down play near midfield scrambled for 13 yards, dodging two USC defenders that could have stopped him short of the mark, to get another first down.

Nunes then connected two plays later with Zach Ertz for a 37-yard scoring strike. Jordan Williamson’s conversion kick gave Stanford a 21-14 lead.

Stanford 14, USC 14 (10 seconds left in third quarter)

Stepfan Taylor isn’t always included in conversations about the best running backs in the Pac-12 Conference.

But he should always be included in conversations about backs that have given USC fits in recent seasons.

Taylor has had big games against USC before, and he’s having another this evening. He just took a screen pass from quarterback Josh Nunes and turned it into a 23-yard touchdown, breaking four arm tackles along the way to tying the score.

Taylor has run for 112 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries and he has four receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Meantime, Stanford’s defense is making it tough for USC and quarterback Matt Barkley.

The Cardinal has forced three turnovers, given up just 41 yards rushing and has sacked Barkley three times. USC is 1 for 11 in third-down conversions.

USC 14, Stanford 7 (6:50 left left in third quarter)

Alex Wood will have to wait for his first field-goal attempt for USC.

Coach Lane Kiffin sent out the freshman walk-on kicker for an apparent 30-yard field-goal try, but the Trojans shifted into a shotgun formation and holder/quarterback Matt Barkley threw a pass into the end zone instead.

The pass, intended for fullback Soma Vainuku, was stripped away at the last second by Stanford’s Ronnie Harris.

USC, 14, Stanford 7 (10:51 left in third quarter)

This has been a tough game so far for Stanford kicker Jordan Williamson.

Williamson missed field-goal attempts from 47 and 23 yards in the first half, and he just had a 51-yard try blocked by USC’s T.J. McDonald.

USC takes over at its own 34-yard line.

USC 14, Stanford 7 (halftime)

Despite committing three turnovers, including two interceptions on consecutive passes by Matt Barkley, the Trojans went into the locker room with the lead.

Barkley has completed 11 of 20 passes for 150 yards.

Safety Jordan Richards picked off a Barkley pass with 1:23 left in the first half, but USC linebacker Dion Bailey interceopted a pass by Josh Nunes on the next play.

Stanford cornerback Terrence Brown then picked off a Barkley pass, giving Stanford a chance to tie the score.

Nunes drove the Cardinal from the Stanford 27 to USC’s 31 before Trojans safety Jawanza Starling intercepted a pass to end the threat.

Nunes has completed six of 17 passes for 78 yards.

USC tailback Curtis McNeal was taken to the locker room with an apparent injury but returned near the end of the first half after Silas Redd was injured on a play in which he fumbled.

Redd gained 15 yards in 11 carries and scored two touchdowns.

McNeal has gained 31 yards in three carries.

Stanford’s Stepfan Taylor has rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown in eight carries.

USC 14, Stanford 7 (11:19 left in the second quarter)

Matt Barkley completed two fourth-down passes during a 14-play, 58-yard drive and Silas Redd scored his second touchdown to give the Trojans the lead.

Barkley connected with tight end Randall Telfer for eight yards on a fourth-and-three pass.

Wide receiver Robert Woods gained 24 yards on a fourth-and-19 play from the 25 yard-line.

Redd scored on a one-yard run.

Barkley has completed eight of 14 passes for 133 yards.

Redd has scored on runs of two and one yards.

USC 7, Stanford 7 (end of first quarter)

Stanford is without Andrew Luck, but the Cardinal is playing the Trojans tough.

Neither team had given up a first-quarter touchdown in its first two games and now here they are tied.

Nelson Agholor’s catch-and-run play of 49 yards set up a short touchdown by Silas Redd.

Stanford answered with a 59-yard touchdown run by Stepfan Taylor.

Matt Barkley completed six of 12 passes for 105 yards in the first quarter.

Josh Nunes was two of eight for 19 yards for Stanford.

USC 7, Stanford 7 (6:43 left in the first quarter)

Stanford’s first possession ended with kicker Jordan Williamson’s 47-yard field-goal attempt hitting the left upright.

But the Cardinal tied the score a few minutes after the Trojans took a 7-0 lead.

Running back Stepfan Taylor took a handoff from quarterback Josh Nunes, broke off right tackle and then sidestepped one tackler and slipped another before breaking toward the left sideline and outrunning the Trojans for a 59-yard touchdown.

Taylor has rushed for 65 yards in four carries.

Nunes has completed two of seven passes for 19 yards.

Matt Barkley has completed four of eight passes for 89 yards.

USC 7, Stanford 0 (9:40 left in the first quarter)

USC will forever be remembered for the “Bush Push� play at Notre Dame in 2005.

Trojans tailback Silas Redd scored USC’s first touchdown with what looked like a bearhug of an assist from tackle Aundrey Walker.

On second and goal from the two, Redd took a handoff and appeared to be stopped. But he kept his feet moving and Walker wrapped him up and appeared to pull him across the goal line.

Freshman receiver Nelson Agholor set up the touchdown with a catch-and-run play of 49 yards.

Matt Barkley has completed three of five passes for 70 yards.

Pregame

USC is on the field for warmups at Stanford Stadium ... and center Khaled Holmes is out there in uniform.

USC announced via Twitter that Holmes is considered a game-time decision.

The last time we saw Holmes in a game, he was being carted off the field at MetLife Stadium in the fourth quarter of USC’s victory over Syracuse. Holmes was on crutches after the game with a protective boot on his foot.

Redshirt freshman Cyrus Hobbi would probably play center if Holmes is unable to play or if he starts and is unable to finish.

USC is trying to end a three-game losing streak against the Cardinal.

Game time appears it will be closer to 5 o’clock than the previously announced 4:30 p.m.

ALSO:

Florida State’s Chris Thompson completes comeback

Louisiana Monroe falls short of upsetting another SEC foe

Nebraska wins big but Arkansas State looks like a million bucks