Thanks to a sensational performance by the Cal defense and the game-breaking abilities of Deltha O'Neal, Cal posted a 17-7 win over USC to pull back into contention in the wacky Pac-10 race.

Cal upped its conference record to 3-2 on the season (4-4 overall) and is only one game back in the loss column to Stanford and Washington.

The Bears almost had their second shutout in three games, but a 72-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter got the Trojans on the scoreboard. However, the Bears did post nine sacks on the day and forced four turnovers. O'Neal was all Cal needed as he returned an interception 67 yards for Cal's first score and set up a Cal field goal with a 60-yard punt return.

Mawuko Tugbenyoh had a big game as he sacked USC quarterback Mike Van Raaphorst on each of USC's first two possessions. The second one also caused a fumble and was recovered by Andre Carter at the Trojan 33-yard-line. Cal quarterback Kyle Boller scrambled for 19 yards to the Trojan 14-yard line. The Bears were unable to score on the next drive even after Boller ran for 19 yards to the 14-yard-line, but the drive stalled and Mark Jensen missed the field goal attempt from 25 yards out, wide left.

Boller left the game briefly near the end of the first quarter due to a cut on his elbow, but was back after getting stitched up on the sidelines.

Cal's offense was lethargic early in the game and did not generate a first down until 8:49 left in the first half. That started some offensive momentum and the Bears drove 52 yards on 11 plays to the Trojan 16-yard-line. However, a Boller pass into the endzone was intercepted by Antuan Simmons with 4:04 left in before intermission.

The Trojans then moved down the field, thanks to a pair of 15-yard Cal penalties. With a second-and-10 at the Cal 40, Van Raaphorst tried to throw an out pattern to Windrell Hayes. O'Neal stepped in front of the receiver to make the interception and sprint up the sidelines for a 67-yard touchdown and a 7-0 Cal lead with 2:30 left in the half. The interception was O'Neal's fifth of the season and his third interception return for a touchdown, the most in California history.

Cal stopped USC's first possession of the second half and O'Neal broke a 60-yard punt return, putting the Bears in prime scoring position at USC's 24. Marcus Fields rushed to the 18, but the Bears were forced to go for three. Jensen connected for his longest field goal of the season, a 37-yarder that put Cal up 10-0 with 10:44 remaining in the third quarter.

Van Raaphorst was replaced by back-up quarterback John Fox and USC began to move the ball. Facing a second-and-1 at the Cal 23, tailback Sultan McCullough fumbled and Chidi Iwuoma recovered at the Cal 17-yard-line for the turnover.

Boller found Drae Harris downfield for a 40-yard pass completion, but on the next play threw an interception to Trojan safety Ifeanyi Ohalete.

The Trojans converted the turnover into a touchdown on a 72-yard pass from Fox to Kareem Kelly who would finish the day with game high 170-yards on nine receptions, to close to within three points of the Bears, 10-7.

Jamaal Cherry recovered a fumble by tight end Antoine Harris at the Cal 43-yard-line midway through the fourth quarter to stop one Trojan threat and then the Cal defense dominated the remainder of the game.

Tugbenyoh recorded his fourth sack of the day in the final five minutes and Carter joined the sack party with his third of the game. The Bear defense totaled 15 tackles for loss against the Trojans for a total of 74 yards.

Line score
		1		2		3		4		F
California	0		7		3		7		17
USC		0		0		7		0		7
Game Statistics
	Qtr	Time	Play							Score
C	2	2:39	D. O'Neal 67-yard interception return (Jensen kick)		7-0
C	3	10:44	M. Jensen 37-yard field goal				10-0
			Scoring Drive:  4 yards in 4 plays
SC	3	6:08	K. Kelly 72-yard pass from Fox (Newbury kick)		10-7
			Scoring Drive: 86 yards in 4 plays

Individual Statistics Leaders
Rushing
CAL:
Fields		24-66
Boller		5-21
Igber		5-1
USC:
Morton		12-84
McCullough	7-37
Jackson		2-3
Passing
CAL:
Boller		26-10-150
		1 TD/ 2 Int
USC:
Fox		25-12-226
		1 TD/0 Int
Van Raaphorst	24-14-156
		0 TD/1 Int
Receiving
CAL:
Fields		2-28
Currin		2-25
USC:
Kelly		9-170
Hayes		8-88

Allmond		5-55
Team Statistics				CAL				USC
First Downs (Rush-Pass-Pen)		3-5-1				7-13-3
Rushing (Att-Net Yds)			37-82				33-70
Passing (PC-PA-Int)			10-26-2				26-49-1
Passing Yards				150				382
Total Offensive Plays			63				82
Total Offensive Yards			232				452
Punts-Average				10-43.5				11-42.6
Penalties-Yards				12-90				9-91
Fumbles-Lost				0-0				3-3
Time of Possession			32:59				27:01