[StLee]

My wife was on vacation, so I was busy doing "stuff" and could not find time to dynasty write. Now to try to finish this before or about the same day as this year's real NCAA Football Championship.

South Regional Final - Played at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

#7 USC 23, #2 LSU 13

(Not only no repeat, but the last two standing in the real BCS field did not make it to the semifinals.)

USC was able to build a 13-point first half lead and then hold off the #2-ranked LSU Tigers in a 23-13 victory in the Quarterfinal Round of the 2007 NCAA Playoffs.

John David Booty defeated his home state team to earn MVP honors. He finished 23 of 33 for 257 yards with two touchdowns.

The Trojans took an early lead in the first quarter on David Buehler’s 25-yard field goal. He later added a 39-yarder for a 6-0 USC lead heading into the second quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Booty found Patrick Turner on a two-yard pass to give USC a 13-0 lead. The drive came following an interception by LSU’s Matt Flynn, giving USC a short field. The Tigers were able to answer, though, cutting the lead to 13-7 when Jacon Hester plunged in from five yards out. USC scored again, though, with 3:50 left in the half on Booty’s touchdown pass to David Ausberry from 11 yards out. That gave USC a 20-7 advantage at the break.

Colt David kicked field goals of 35 and 41 yards in the third quarter to cut the Trojans’ lead to 20-13 heading into the final quarter. However, the only score in the final quarter came on Buehler’s late 36-yard field goal to clinch the win.

LSU struggled to score despite having two 100-yard rushers in the game. Keiland Williams led the way with 107 yards on just nine carries, his longest being a 50-yard burst. Hester added 106 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Flynn finished 12 of 22 for 172 yards with an interception. His top target was Early Doucet with four catches for 55 yards.

Chauncey Washington was the Trojans’ leading rusher with 23 carries and 92 yards. He also added 19 yards on two receptions. Fred Davis led the way in receiving with five catches for 63 yards.

USC now moves on to the semifinals in the Orange Bowl in Miami where they will await the winner of third-ranked Virginia Tech and 11th-ranked Arizona State.