BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Carson Palmer passed for 235 yards and Chris Howard scored a pair of touchdowns Saturday as Southern California routed hapless California, 55-14.
Last Sunday, embattled California coach tom Holmoe announced he would step down at the end of the season, but it was business as usual for the Golden Bears, who suffered their 12th straight loss.
California (0-9, 0-7 Pac-10) is two games away from the first winless season in school history.
The Golden Bears grabbed a 7-0 lead Saturday on Kyle Boller's five-yard run less than three minutes into the game.
But USC responded with 28 straight points to open a 28-7 lead at the intermission. Howard, who rushed for 61 yards on eight carries, scored on runs of 25 and 15 yards.
USC took the lead for good, 14-7, on Palmer's five-yard pass to Kareem Kelly 45 seconds into the second period. Palmer completed 19 of 37 passes.
The Trojans (5-5, 4-3) stretched their lead to 35-7 early in the third quarter on a three-yard run by David Davis off a faked field goal.
California closed to within 35-14 on backup Reggie Robertson's eight-yard pass to Charon Arnold with five minutes left in the third period.
But Davis kicked field goals of 33 and 26 yards before Eric Reese scored on a 15-yard run to make it 48-14 with just under six minutes to play.
The Trojans also got a pair of defensive scores. Troy Polamalu returned an interception 58 yards in the second period before John Cousins capped the scoring with an eight-yard fumble return with 22 seconds left in the contest.
California used four quarterbacks with Boller completing just six of 15 for 92 yards and two interceptions.
The Trojans have won three straight and face rival UCLA next week.
