LOS ANGELES — Notre Dame entered the Coliseum to a clash of boos and cheers from two fan bases fighting for the loudest voice.

No. 1 Notre Dame leads USC at the half, 16-10.

Kyle Brindza kicked a career long 52-yard field goal as the first half ended.

The Irish struck early and quickly, going up 10-0 on USC before the Trojans could react.

Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson opened with a 9-play, 66-yard drive that ran out of gas in the red zone. Brindza made a 27-yard field goal to give the Irish an early lead.

The Irish forced three straight incompletions by USC quarterback Max Wittek, a redshirt freshman making his first collegiate start.

Notre Dame punched back with a 12-play, 87-yard drive that featured four straight double-digit yard gains by Golson. Theo Riddick topped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run.

After starting 0 for 3, Wittek went 5 for 5 for 48 yards and found Robert Woods in the end zone to start the second quarter.

Notre Dame came back with another long drive – this one 13 plays for 67 yards – but had to settle with another Brindza field goal, which USC matched on its following series.

Golson is 14 for 23 for 182 yards at the half compared to Wittek’s 7 for 11 for 64 yards and one touchdown.