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Neither team did much at the start of the third quarter until USC put together a seven-minute, eleven-play drive.
Once again, the Trojans were in the red zone when John Johnson made another series of mistakes. He was flagged for not being on the line of scrimmage on a play that would have given USC a first down. Then he let his guy go and got Matt sacked. Finally, John jumped offsides on third and goal from the two-yard line.
That meant that Alex had to go in and kick another field goal to give USC a 27–21 lead.
David tried to get in Coach Merritt’s ear to warn him that Matt looked shaken but was rebuffed.
At the start of the fourth quarter, UCLA’s defense picked on John, running stunts and blitzes at him. Matt was sacked
two more times, and USC seemed to be losing more ground than gaining.
Then the Bruins took the ball from their three-yard line and drove the length of the field as their running back gashed the defense for long plays. UCLA scored a touchdown to take a 28–27 lead.
Matt got happy feet on USC’s next series and threw the ball right to a UCLA defender. Their drive was stopped, but they kicked a field goal to extend their lead to 31–27.
The subsequent drive for UCLA ended in another field goal to put them up 34–27.
David took Matt aside and calmed him down.
“Dude, you’re the man. We have two and a half minutes left. A touchdown will tie the game, and I know we’ll win in overtime. Go out and show everyone how good you really are,” David encouraged.
“I got this,” Matt said as Coach Thomas called him over to give him his final instructions.
Matt ran out and huddled up his team. They had plenty of time to drive the length of the field and score. Something that changed was that John Johnson was pulled from left tackle. At least they wouldn’t have to worry about him killing the drive.
On the first play, substituting Bear at tackle paid off. He knocked his defender on his ass and picked up a corner blitz to protect Matt’s backside. That gave Matt time to find Bill for a fifteen-yard gain. That changed USC’s entire demeanor as the team rose on the sideline and began to yell encouragement.
David was proud of Matt as he began to command the offense and pick up positive yardage on each play.
With 54 seconds left, USC had moved inside the red zone again at the UCLA twelve-yard line.
Matt found Bill open in the corner of the end zone on first and ten but overthrew him. He handed off to Marcus
on second down, who picked up eight yards, making it third and two on the four-yard line.
UCLA sent everyone on a blitz, forcing Matt out of the pocket. David was screaming for him to run the ball because he could have walked in for the score. Instead, he threw across his body, something you are taught not to do, but he found Amari wide open.
Amari alligator-armed the reception, and the ball flew to a defender behind him for the interception.
Matt had almost done it.
After the game, two stats stood out. The UCLA running back had rushed for 289 yards on 40 carries and scored two touchdowns. USC had gained 80 yards in the second half, most of those coming on the final drive.
In one of the most classless moves David had ever seen, USC’s athletic director fired Coach Merritt on his way to the locker room.
That meant USC would face number three Notre Dame with a new interim head coach. It would likely be one of the coordinators unless Drew fired them, too.
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Chapter 42
On Sunday, it was announced that Coach Thomas was the new interim interim head coach, if such a thing existed.
He called a team meeting for Sunday afternoon.
“Everybody’s wondering what happened to USC this season, given how well we played last year. The only way to prove that we are still that team is to act like it, to perform like it.
“A true test of a player is not whether he can have a good game but how consistent he can be. We haven’t been consistent, not as a team. But you have a chance to change that. Take your best game this season, and match that.
Better it!
“I challenge you today to put that on tape! Put it on tape!” Coach Thomas said.
“You’ve got one last chance this season to do your damn job and make an impression on the incoming coaching staff or the NFL,” Coach Farrow said. “You all have it in you. If you want to move to the next level, it’s time to show it.”
“I’m not afraid of this moment,” Coach Thomas said.
“I’m not going to play it safe. I plan to go for it and win this game. And I challenge each and every one of you to do the same.”
At that moment, he had the support of the whole team.
They were ready to run through walls to make it happen.
David made a mental note that just a few well-spoken phrases could turn the outlook of something on its head.
“To that end, we are shaking up the starting lineup this week. I expect you to all act like professionals and embrace the chance we are giving certain players to step up and show us what they can do as starters. They’ve earned their shot in practice, and I don’t want to see any head-hanging if you’re demoted because we need you to come in when
you’re called upon. Be ready to give it your all,” Coach Farrow said.
“The new starters are David Dawson at quarterback, Jerry Barber at left tackle, Jesús Diaz at tailback, Nick Collins in the slot, and Craig Hendricks at wide receiver.
On defense …” Coach Thomas continued as he listed all the defensive changes.
David noted that Bill Callaway at wideout and Nolan Hammer at tight end were the only skill players not replaced. It wasn’t lost on him that all the players listed had shown up for the voluntary Notre Dame practices. He hoped that meant Coach Thomas would embrace the plays that Coach Mason and Coach Hope had devised.
David glanced over at Matt and received a nod to let him know Matt was okay with the change.
“Finally, this is Thanksgiving week. I know the campus is shutting down, but we have a game on Saturday. We’ll move everyone to our usual pre-home-game hotel Wednesday night. We’ll have practice Thursday morning, and at one, we will have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
“After that, you can either go lift, watch some NFL, or I understand Dawson is organizing a voluntary practice.
“We’ll treat Friday as normal. The football building will be open, so if you need treatment or want to work out, you can,” Coach Thomas announced.
David didn’t look forward to telling his mom that he wouldn’t be home for Thanksgiving, but that was just one of the many obligations a college athlete had.
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His film class project had been easy to put together because of all the footage his PR team had accumulated over the years. He’d spliced it all together and added music and a voice-over. Before he submitted it, he wanted Tracy to give him her opinion.
“You can do better.”
David sighed because he wanted to finish making the short so he could focus on other stuff.
“Don’t give me that look. You know what you created is a fluff piece you would see at any of your football award banquets. I thought you were supposed to give it a twist.
Maybe you could create something meaningful instead of doing what everyone else would do,” Tracy said.
“I didn’t think it was that bad,” David said to defend himself.