Five Key Moments

1 USC’s R. Jay Soward, with the potential game-winning touchdown pass in his arms on what would have been a 70-yard scoring play in the fourth quarter, bobbles the ball as he tries to control it and finally tumbles to the ground without the ball. Soward scored earlier on a 64-yard pass play, but dropped two bombs.

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2 Stanford’s Tim Smith picks off Mike Van Raaphorst’s pass at the seven-yard line on the final play of the game. It was one of three interceptions Van Raaphorst threw while passing for a school-record 415 yards in a losing cause.

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3 Stanford running back Brian Allen rambles for 68 yards early in the second quarter, sparking the Cardinal’s first touchdown drive--and hinting of the big plays to come. Allen rushed for 121 yards, and Stanford receivers Troy Walters and Tafiti Uso each had catches of 40 or more yards.

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4 USC’s Antuan Simmons is credited with an interception he probably shouldn’t have had, rolling over and dropping the ball out of bounds. USC scores on the next play to take the lead, 31-28, on Van Raaphorst’s 64-yard bomb to Soward. But the controversy that would have been is moot when Stanford comes back to score again.

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5 A kicker’s duel: Stanford and USC combine to miss four field-goal attempts--three by USC--including a 36-yarder by David Newbury--and one by Stanford. Stanford also had punting trouble, switching punters after Sean Tolpinrud averaged 23 yards on three kicks.