By Tim Peterson
(Las Vegas) – Woody Marks crashed into the end zone from 13 yards out with eight seconds left to lift USC to a 27-20 win over LSU Saturday night in the Kickoff Classic before a capacity crowd of 63,969 at Allegiant Stadium.
After an LSU field goal tied the game at 20 the Trojans took possession of the ball at their own 25 with 1:47 left. USC drove 75 yards to get the game winner. Kyron Hudson caught a 15 yard pass from Miller Moss and then a personal foul on LSU moved the ball to the 13 to set up the score.
Mason Cobb then intercepted a Garrett Nussmeier pass with four seconds left to add a little gravy.
LSU was stopped on fourth and goal from the three-yard line on the opening possession when Garrett Nussmeier’s pass fell incomplete.
USC was forced to punt on its first possession.
After an LSU punt USC drove 87 yards on 8 plays. Marks drew first blood by capping it with a two-yard run with 11:00 left in the second quarter. Hudson pulled in a one-handed catch down to the LSU 17 yard line to highlight the march. The Trojans were also aided by a pass interference penalty that put the ball at the Tiger two.
LSU responded with a 9-play, 75-yard drive to get even. Nussmeier hit Kyren Lacy in the corner of the end zone on a 19-yard touchdown strike with 7:04 left in the second quarter.
On the Trojans next possession Duce Robinson hauled in a 38-yard pass from Moss down to the LSU 5-yard line. A penalty pushed USC back to the 15 however and the Trojans settled for a 22-yard field goal by Michael Lantz for a 10-7 lead.
The Tigers tied it with 1:08 left in the second quarter on a 45-yard Damien Ramos field goal.
Marks had two runs totaling 26 yards as the Trojans moved the ball down to the LSU 12 yard line but Lantz missed a 29-yard field goal as the first half clock ran out.
The teams went into halftime tied at 10.
USC had 31 rushing yards and 176 passing for a total of 207 yards in the first half. LSU had 237 total with 191 of those passing.
Lantz booted a 35-yard field goal mid-way through the third quarter to give the Trojans a 13-10 lead. A 41-yard pass from Moss to Kyle Ford down to the LSU 41 set up the kick.
LSU grabbed the lead on the following series. Nussmeier hit Aaron Anderson on 13-yard touchdown pass to finish a 7-play, 78-yard drive for a 17-13 lead with 3:42 left in the third.
The Trojans had to punt again on the next series and LSU took over. The Tigers took the four-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Sai’vion Jones knocked down a Moss pass on fourth down and LSU took over at their own 21 with 8:38 left.
On the Trojans next possession they only needed three plays to go 64 yards. Moss connected with Ja’Kobi Lane for a 28-yard touchdown pass and USC was back on top 20-17.
Ramos split the uprights from 31 yards out for LSU to tie it at 20 with 1:47 left.
The Trojans then came up with the decisive drive.
Moss completed 27 of 36 for 378 yards and a touchdown. Marks had 16 carries for 68 yards and a pair of TDs. Hudson had 5 receptions for 83 yards while Lane grabbed 3 for 50 yards and a touchdown.
For LSU Nussmeier went 29 of 38 for 304 yards and a touchdown. Lacy had 7 catches for 94 yards and Anderson had 5 for 64 and a score.
Riley had better send a Xmas card to Brian Kelly for gifting Trojan the game with poor decisions , unacceptable clock management and enforcing no discipline on sidelines
Riley running a play with 13 seconds on the clock was crazy. A million things could have gone wrong. A fumble being the obvious one. Just snap it to the qb, center it for the extra point and maybe 3 seconds left.
Lynn’s defense wasn’t the brick wall Trojan fans desired, but hey, look at the massive O-line they were up against today. Tackling was better, and limiting the Tigers to just 20 did the trick. One major observation is that, with his helmet on, Miller Moss looks like Don Henley of the Eagles. I know he and his teammates will have a peaceful, easy feeling on the ride back to L.A.
I have no confidence in Riley coaching up players from scratch. The Portal kept him hot but now SC is no getting the cream from other top programs.
More than anything else, I’m interested to see how the SC defense performs under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn. Stopping people has been the problem thus far in the Lincoln Riley era.