FIVE KEY MOMENTS

1 USC freshman Kareem Kelly, who has outshined R. Jay Soward in Soward’s senior season, shows his big-play capability with a 72-yard touchdown reception, breaking a tackle on the sideline, picking up a block and then sprinting to the end zone with the speed he hopes will help him run a 10.0-second 100 meters for USC in track some day. USC cuts the lead to 10-7, but turnovers ultimately kill any hopes of a comeback.

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2 With the teams muddling toward a scoreless first half, Cal’s Deltha O’Neal darts in front of Windrell Hayes and picks off Mike Van Raaphorst’s pass and returns it 67 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 2:39 left in the half. It’s the third interception return for a touchdown of O’Neal’s season--and the fourth of his career.

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3 O’Neal takes Mike MacGillivray’s punt at the 16-yard line, cuts left, finds an open lane and dashes 60 yards to the USC 24, faking out MacGillivray along the way before David Gibson makes the touchdown-saving tackle. Cal settles for a field goal, and a 10-0 third-quarter lead.

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4 John Fox, USC’s starting quarterback in 1997, comes in for Van Raaphorst early in the third quarter. Fox, a tight end last season, started this season as a linebacker--playing backup linebacker and third-string quarterback on consecutive plays against Hawaii in the Trojans’ season opener. Seven games later, he is on the verge of becoming USC’s starting quarterback again after sparking a comeback attempt after connecting with Kelly on the 72-yard touchdown pass play.

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5 With USC driving and a comeback possibly in the works, tailback Sultan McCullough fumbles, and Cal recovers. Later, another drive is thwarted when tight end Antoine Harris fumbles after a 25-yard reception, and once again, Cal recovers. With that, USC has committed eight turnovers in the last two games.