By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – USC racked up 501 total yards and Caleb Williams threw four touchdown passes as the Trojans went on to rout San Jose State 56-28 Saturday night before 63, 411 at the LA Memorial Coliseum in the 2023 season opener.
The Trojans led 21-14 at the halftime before blowing it wide open with a 21-point third quarter.
USC’s first possession of 2023 was a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Caleb Williams hit Dorian Singer with a 13-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
San Jose State answered with a 12-play, 72-yard drive with Kairee Robinson scoring on a one-yard run to tie it at 7-7. Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro highlighted the drive with a 29-yard run.
Later in the second quarter with the Trojans deep in their own end, Williams dropped a snap, then picked it up and threw a 76-yard pass to Tahj Washington who outran the Spartan secondary for the score and a 14-7 advantage.
After USC forced a San Jose State punt the Trojans marched 52 yards on 10 plays. Austin Jones went in from the two-yard line for a 14-point SC lead with 3:31 left in the second quarter.
After USC was forced to punt from its own endzone San Jose State took over at the Trojan 46-yard line and quickly capitalized. Cordeiro found Nick Nash for a 28-yard touchdown strike with 8 seconds remaining.
USC took a 21-14 lead into halftime.
USC went 75 yards on 10 plays to open the third quarter. Jones scored on a three-yard run to increase the Trojans margin back to 14 points.
Williams connected with Zachariah Branch on the next possession to up the lead to 35-14. Branch made the catch and scampered 25 yards for the score with 6:00 left in the third quarter.
The Spartans struck as the Cordeiro-Nash connection worked again for a 32-yard touchdown pass. But Branch halted any momentum San Jose State had as he returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to paydirt with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter and just like that the Cardinal and Gold were up 42-21.
The Trojans continued to pile on on the next possession when Williams fired a 12-yard bullet to Brenden Rice for a score to make it 49-21 early in the fourth.
Both teams scored late touchdowns. Miller Moss, who came on in relief of Williams, scored on a four-yard quarterback keeper.
Nash picked up his third score of the night on a short two-yard pass from Cordeiro for the final tally of the night.
For USC Williams finished 18 of 25 for 278 yards and the four touchdowns without a pick. Washington had just 2 catches but had 85 yards and a touchdown. Branch had 4 receptions for 58 and a score and Singer caught 4 passes for 41 yards and a TD. On the ground Jones had 6 carries for 54 yards and 2 touchdowns and MarShawn Lloyd had 9 totes for 42 yards.
For the Spartans Cordeiro completed 21 of 38 for 198 yards and 3 scores with no interceptions. Quali Conley ran for 108 yards on 6 carries and Cordeiro had success with his legs as well running for 52 yards on 10 carries. Nash had 3 touchdowns and 6 catches overall and 89 yards. Charles Ross caught five balls for 62 yards.
Next up for the Trojans is a home game next Saturday against Nevada at 3:30 p.m
SJS 0 14 07 07 28
USC 7 14 21 14 56
What, no player or coach quotes?
If Troy allows San Jose State 28 points, how many will they give up to a real opponent?