FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 19, 2005

An endzone interception of a Paul Pinegar pass, the fourth on the night, ensured a USC victory with 1:20 let on the clock. The Trojans ran out the remaining game time, leaving Memorial Coliseum with a 50-42 win and a 33-game win streak intact.

The lead had changed hands once again after LenDale White scored on a 2-yard TD run and a failed two-point conversion try by USC. This followed a Reggie Bush fumble and a Wendell Mathis touchdown to give the 'Dogs back the lead 42-41 with under 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter after a second Joe Fernandez touchdown and extra point brought the Bulldogs to within six.

Bush earlier turned what should have been a loss into a 30-yard TD romp, extending the USC lead to 13. A Paul to Paul connection brought the Fresno State Bulldogs back to within six when Bulldogs quarterback Paul Pinegar hit wide receiver Paul Williams for a 16-yard TD pass. The touchdown came after the USC Trojans intercepted a second Pinegar pass in less than a minute that put the 'Dogs on the defensive once again. As did the first interception, the second also led to a Trojan touchdown and extra point to go ahead by 13.

The first USC interception led to a Bush touchdown run at 10:03 into the third quarter to take a 27-21 lead over the Bulldogs, leading for the first time in the contest. Bush already has 237 all-purpose yards less than five minutes into the third quarter.

USC's first drive out of the half-time locker room resulted in a touchdown by Trojan quarterback Matt Leinert on a 1-yard run from scrimmage. Fresno State led by 8 at halftime in its historic match-up with defending national champion USC Trojans, who hit a 31-yard field goal with 6 seconds left in the first half to go into the locker room trailing 21-13.

On the Bulldogs' final possession of the first half, an 18-yard completion to the end zone from Pinegar to wide receiver Fernandez put the Bulldogs up 21-10. The touchdown came after the 'Dogs held USC to a 3-pointer after a tough Fresno State defense stalled a 60-yard drive by the Trojans. On their previous possession, the 'Dogs' Rashon Vercher put Fresno State ahead 14-7 at 2 1/2 minutes into the second quarter on a one-foot run. Fresno State lit up the scoreboard first in its most anticipated game in Bulldog history, when a recovered fumble in the end zone led to a Fresno State 7-0 lead over USC. The Trojans came back six minutes later with a score of its own.