USC Takes Down Notre Dame in Season Finale

The USC Trojans (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) ended the season on a high note, taking down rival Notre Dame in a convincing fashion with a 49-14 victory in the 85th installment of the rivalry. 

The Trojans were led by a record night for Cody Kessler, who completed a career-best 32 passes for 372 yards. He also threw for a record six touchdowns, the most ever thrown against the Fighting Irish. 

USC put points on the board first with a 48-yard pass from Cody Kessler to George Farmer, bringing the score to 7-0 in the middle of the 1st quarter. Kessler connected with true freshman wide receiver Adoree Jackson on the next drive to make it 14-0. Kessler connected with Farmer once again on a 31-yard pass, making it 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. 

Kessler got Darreus Rogers and Nelson Agholor into the mix, throwing to both of them on short passes, to make it 35-0 with 5 minutes left in the 1st half. 

Notre Dame finally got on the board near the end of the 1st half, as back-up quarterback Malik Zaire rushed for 11-yards to make it 35-7. 

USC dominated the rest of the game, with Randall Telfer scoring on a 9-yard pass from Cody Kessler in the 3rd quarter, making it 42-7. Justin Davis ran for a 16-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 49-7. 

The Fighting Irish added a score near the end of the 3rd quarter to make it 49-14. 

Final Stats:

USC

Cody Kessler: 32/40, 372 yards, 6 TDs

Nelson Agholor: 120 yards, 1 TD

Notre Dame

Malik Zaire: 9/20, 170 yards 

Everett Golson: 7/18, 75 yards, 1 INT