By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – USC outscored San Jose State 17-0 in the fourth quarter and went on to beat the Spartans 30-7 Saturday before 54,398 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
After a Parker Lewis field goal early in the fourth quarter the Trojans were still only up by nine at 16-7. But on San Jose State’s next possession Greg Johnson picked off a Nick Starkel pass and returned it 37 yards for the score. With 11:42 left on the clock the pick six proved to be a dagger to the heart of the Spartans.
USC added one more touchdown late on a 20-yard scoring strike by Kedon Slovis to Erik Krommenhoek with just over two minutes remaining.
USC opened the scoring with a 27- yard field goal by Parker Lewis in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead.
The Trojans then took advantage of a short field after an interception by Drake Jackson set them up at the San Jose St. 30-yard line.
Slovis then connected with Tahj Washington on a 29-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-0 with 7:01 left in the first quarter.
San Jose St. had an opportunity in the second quarter after Krommenhoek fumbled and the Spartans recovered at the USC 45. But they failed to take advantage as Matt Mercurio missed a 29-yard field goal.
Lewis booted a 23 yarder for USC on the next possession for a 13-0 advantage with 4:38 left in the second.
In the third quarter San Jose State marched 75 yards on 11 plays with former Los Altos star Tyler Nevens capping it with a two-yard touchdown run. The Spartans were within six with 7:25 left in the third quarter. But that was as close as they got.
Lewis kicked the 30 yard field goal with 13:03 left in the fourth quarter, Johnson stepped in front of Starkel’s pass and that was all she wrote.
Krommenhoek made up for his earlier turnover with a sliding touchdown grab of Slovis’ toss with 2:07 left.
For San Jose State Nevens had 15 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown. Starkel put the ball in the air 46 times and completed 24 of them for 306 yards but he was hurt by the two interceptions. Isaiah Hamilton had six receptions for 74 yards.
USC didn’t have a huge rushing attack but did manage to gain 160 total yards. Keaontry Ingram had 86 yards on 15 carries and Vavae Malepeai ran for 65 yards and 14 attempts. Slovis went 24 of 36 for 256 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Drake London was his favorite target hauling in 12 receptions 137 yards.
USC, out of the gate with a win, will host Stanford next week at 7:30 p.m. in a Pac 12 after dark game. San Jose State dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
Wasn’t El Monte’s Davon Booth on the SJS roster at one time?t
From T. Peterson: No he actually never was. There was talk that he was going to commit there but it never panned out.