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Official Site of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
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Dec. 26, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO - Fullback Stanley Havili scored a pair touchdowns and Offensive Most Valuable Player Damian Williams set career-highs with 12 receptions and189 yards as USC defeated Boston College 24-13 in the 2009 Emerald Bowl played at AT&T Park on Saturday. The win was the Trojans' (9-4) fourth straight bowl victory and seventh in the last eight years under ninth-year head coach Pete Carroll. Havili scored USC's first two touchdowns, scoring on pass plays of 53 and 5 yards as the Trojans built a 14-0 lead with 12:36 remaining in the second quarter. Boston College (8-5) answered with a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-13 at halftime. Montel Harris capped a six-play, 68-yard drive with a 7-yard run to put the Eagles on the scoreboard. The failed extra point made the score 13-6. Following a Wes Davis interception of a Matt Barkley pass at the Boston College 12-yard line, the Eagles went 88 yards in eight plays. The drive culminated when quarterback Dave Shinskie connected on a 61-yard scoring play to wide receiver Rich Gunnell. Following halftime, Boston College had a golden opportunity to take its first lead of the game when strong safety Marcellus Bowman intercepted Barkley on the first play of the third quarter and returned the ball 40 yards to the USC 9-yard line. The Eagles, however, were unable to take advantage of the Trojans' miscue as Boston College turned the ball over two plays later when Harris was tackled for a loss at the 10-yard line, fumbled, Trojans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey scooped up the loose ball and dragged Eagles defenders 22 yards, giving USC the ball at its own 32-yard line. USC then marched 48 yards on 10 plays and built its lead to 17-13 on a 38-yard field goal by Jordan Congdon with 9:08 remaining in the quarter. Despite amassing 438 yards of total offense, USC was unable to take control of the game until early in the fourth quarter when Barkley scored on a 1-yard run with 11:53 remaining. The quarterback sneak capped a two-play drive with the big play a 48-yard connection between Barkley and Williams that gave the Trojans a first down at the 1-yard line. The USC drive was set up by a Shareece Wright interception at the Boston College 49-yard line. Neither team was able to mount much of a rushing game as USC finished with 88 yards on the ground and Boston College rushed for 94 yards. Barkley finished 27 of 32 for 350 yards, two interceptions and two touchdown passes. Boston College's Shinskie ended his night 14 of 33 for 218 yards, a touchdown and interception. Eagles linebacker Luke Kuechly was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player after recording a game-high 16 tackles. USC's victory marked the second straight year a Pacific-10 Conference team has captured the Emerald Bowl. Cal defeated Miami 24-17 in 2008. |
