By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – USC outscored Wisconsin 28-0 in the second half to erase an 11-point halftime deficit in a 38-21 win over the Badgers Saturday before 74, 118 at United Airlines Field at the LA Memorial Coliseum. This marked the first Big Ten Conference win for the Trojans.
USC was down 21-10 at the half but came back to blitz the Badgers in the second half. The Trojans took the lead for good near the end of the third quarter and then scored twice in the fourth quarter to lock up the victory.
USC scored first before running into some struggles.
The Trojans drove 75 yards on six plays on the first possession. Miller Moss hit Ja’Kobi Lane on a 32-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
Wisconsin immediately answered with a 63-yard touchdown pass from Braedyn Locke to Vinny Anthony II to tie it at 7.
Moss was then picked off by Preston Zachman at the Wisconsin 25. The Badgers couldn’t take advantage of the turnover and were forced to punt back to the Trojans. However Zachariah Branch mishandled the punt, the ball came loose and Wisconsin recovered at the USC 18. On the next play Tawee Walker got to the corner and rumbled 18 yards for the score to put Wisconsin up 14-7 early in the second quarter.
On the next series USC drove into Wisconsin territory before being halted inside the 25. Michael Lantz kicked a 25-yard field goal to cut Wisconsin lead to 14-10.
Wisconsin extended the lead to 21-10 on the next series as Walker picked up his second touchdown of the day on a four-yard run to cap a 7-play, 75-yard drive with 6:29 left in the second.
The Trojans marched all the way down to the Wisconsin 22-yard line on the following possession but Moss was hit, the ball popped free and Wisconsin fell on it at its own 24.
The Badgers were forced to punt to the Trojans but still took the 11-point lead into the break at halftime.
In the third quarter the Trojans cashed in when Wisconsin had its own trouble with a punt. The Trojans long snapper, Hank Pepper, recovered the loose ball at the Badger 30 line. Nine plays later Moss found Lane in the corner of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown to make it 21-17.
USC came up with a big fourth down stop at Its own 33-yard line on the next possession to end a Badger threat.
Duce Robinson got into the act hauling in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Moss after grabbing a 32-yard toss from Moss down to the Wisconsin 8 as USC regained the lead with 1:18 left in the third quarter.
After the defense again forced a Wisconsin punt the Trojans pieced together a 10-play, 77-yard drive. Moss went the last 7 yards on a quarterback keeper to give USC a 31-21 lead with 8:22 left in the fourth quarter.
The Trojans drove a stake through the Badger heart later in the quarter when Mason Cobb picked off a pass and raced 55 yards to the end zone to account for the final score.
For USC Moss completed 30 of 45 for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns with an interception. Woody Marks led the rushing attack with 63 yards on 19 carries and Quinten Joyner had 49 yards on 6 totes. Moss spread the wealth. Lane caught 10 passes for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns. Branch had 4 receptions for 44 yards, Kyron Hudson grabbed 4 for 42 and Robinson had only those two caches on the fourth quarter drive but got the most out of them with 40 yards and a touchdown.
For Wisconsin Locke was 13 of 26 for 180 yards and a score. He was also hurt by the pick six by Cobb. Walker ran for 55 yards and 2 scores on 12 carries. Anthony had 3 catches for 70 yards and a TD and Bryson Green had 4 catches for 65 yards.
USC improved to 4-1 with the win (1-1 in the Big Ten) while Wisconsin fell to 2-2, 0-1 in conference.
embarrassing that the game was even this close and that wisconsin had the lead at half time.
riley deserves to be fired for that horrible “performance” immediately. tarmac her!
Early on, the Badgers were controlling the lines of scrimmage, which is why the halftime score favored the visitors. The second half revealed the good adjustments made in the locker room. Glad to get the W, but not happy about the excessive laundry thrown by the Zebras.