By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) -The Defense forced four turnovers and went on to beat the Offense 43-28 Saturday in the USC Spring game at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
The format of the Spring game has the Defense starting off the game with 24 points and then can earn three points on stops and turnovers or seven with a touchdown. The Offense earns three points for field goals and seven points for touchdowns.
The Trojans used three quarterbacks in the game and all three threw interceptions.
The Defense set the tone early. After the Offense was forced to punt on its first possession, Miller Moss was intercepted by DeCarlos Nicholson on the next possession resulting in three points for the Defense.
Jayden Maiava, a transfer from UNLV, was then picked off on the next series by Marcelles Williams.
The Defense picked up three more points on the next possession when Jake Jensen relieved Maiava and was intercepted by Maliki Crawford.
The Offense finally got on the board late in the first half when Maiava hit Makai Lemon for a 17-yard touchdown pass.
The Offense scored again on the next series. A 36-yard pass from Jensen to Josiah Zamora set up a three-yard run by Bryan Jackson on the final play of the first half.
The Defense led 33-14 at the break.
The Defense continued to excel as Prophet Brown stepped in front of a Moss pass in the endzone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to open the second half and give the D seven more points.
Moss hit Jackson on a short three-yard touchdown pass on the following series.
With Maiava back at quarterback on the next possession Garrett Pomerantz recovered a fumble for a stop and three more points for the Defense.
A’Marion Peterson crossed the goal line on a six-yard run to round out the scoring but it was too little and much too late on a day that was all about the defensive side of the ball.
The Defense walked away with the 15-point win.
The Trojans wrapped up the Spring portion of camp and will get back into it in the Summer.
USC will open the season September 1 against LSU in Las Vegas.
I think Riley should pay D’Anton Lynn 25% of his inflated salary, or else buy the defensive master a beach mansion to match his own. Offense is the sizzle, but defense is the steak.