By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – USC fell behind 35-21 in the third quarter and couldn’t catch Notre Dame in an eventual 49-35 loss to the Irish Saturday before 73, 241 at United Airlines Field at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
The Trojans cut the lead to 35-28 with 8:43 left in the fourth quarter when they took advantage of a short field and drove 45 yards on five plays. Jayden Maiava connected with Ja’Kobi Lane on a six-yard touchdown pass.
USC then got the ball back and drove down into Notre Dame territory when disaster struck twice. Christian Gray intercepted a Maiava pass and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to give the Irish a 42-28 lead with 3:39 left to seal it. Then it happened again.
On the next series Xavier Watts picked off Maiava in the endzone and took it back 100 yards for a score. The Trojans did manage one last score when Maiava hit Lane on an eight-yard touchdown pass – his third of the day- to round out the scoring.
USC’s first possession may have been a sign of things to come. The Trojans were stopped on fourth down on the opening series at the Notre Dame 28-yard line.
Notre Dame then promptly marched 72 yards on 14 plays. Jeremiyah Love capped the drive with a one-yard run to put the Fighting Irish up 7-0 with 2:26 left in the first quarter.
USC bounced back early though. After Easton Mascarenas-Arnold recovered a Notre Dame fumble at the Irish 37 the Trojans needed just five plays to score. Jayden Maiava scored on a one-yard plunge to tie it at 7 early in the second quarter.
Notre Dame converted first downs on a fake punt and a fourth and one to drive all the way down to the USC 10 yard line but Mitch Jeter missed a 27-yard field goal and the score remained tied at 7 with 5:13 left in the first half.
The Irish got the ball back and drove 65 yards on 7 plays highlighted by a 20- yard pass from Riley Leonard to Love down to the USC 12-yard line. Love hurdled a Trojan defender in the process. Leonard then hit Eli Raridon on 12-yard TD strike for a 14-7 lead with 59 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Trojans needed only 5 plays to respond. They went 78 yards with Maiava finding Lane on a 12-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 14 with 24 seconds left in the first half.
The two teams went into the break tied at 14.
Notre Dame broke the tie on the first possession of the third quarter. Jadarian Price broke off a 36-yard touchdown run to make it 21-14.
USC answered with an 8-play, 77-yard drive aided by a pass interference penalty on the Irish. Maiava scored on a one-yard run to tie it at 21 with 9:06 left in the third quarter.
Notre Dame then took control. Leonard’s 24-yard run down to the Trojans four-yard line set up a one-yard touchdown run by Leonard to give the Irish a 28-21 lead on the next possession. With 6:27 left in the third Notre Dame led 28-21.
Later in the third quarter John Humphrey picked off Leonard and returned it to the Notre Dame 45-yard line. But the Trojans were unable to take advantage as they turned the ball over on downs at the Irish 38.
On that series Notre Dame went 62 yards on just three plays. Price broke off a 35-yard run and then Leonard hit Mitchell Evans for a 23-yard scoring toss to give the Irish a 35-21 lead with 1:11 left in the third quarter.
USC then cut it to 35-28 before the pick sixes did them in.
For Notre Dame Leonard was 17 of 22 for 155 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Price ran for 111 yards and a score on 12 carries.
Maiava was 27 of 49 for 360 yards and three touchdowns but was hurt by the two picks. Quinten Joyner had 10 carries for 83 yards and Makai Lemon caught nine passes for 83 yards.
Notre Dame finished the regular season 11-1 overall and will be in the College Football playoffs. USC finished 6-6 and is Bowl eligible.
Sad to say, but Troy could have done better by hiring a nobody as HC, so long as they also got D’Anton Lynn to do the defense. Instead, the university fell for the trap of ‘buying the sizzle’ of a perceived offensive genius, instead of going for the steak of a recruiting maven. Lincoln Riley has had time enough to show what he can do, and it’s woefully short of expectations. What he needs to do now is LEAVE.
If USC can win this game, a lot of pressure will be taken off Riley. Here we go with the 2nd half!