By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – Jayden Maiava threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns and USC had a big first half in a 42-26 win over San Jose State before 51,144 fans at the LA Memorial Coliseum Saturday on Opening Day
The Trojans led 28-0 at halftime and 35-3 in the third quarter before San Jose State made it respectable in the fourth.
USC was off and running on the first possession marching 77 yards on 15 plays. Maiava capped the drive with a one-yard run.
A long punt return by Trent Mosley set up the Trojans again in San Jose State territory on the next series, but USC went for it on fourth down and Maiava was stopped at the one-yard line.
Early in the second quarter Riley Wormley busted five yards for a touchdown to cap a short 43-yard, 8-play drive to put the Trojans up 14-0.
With just over eight minutes left in the second quarter USC defensive tackle Jide Abasiri broke into the backfield and stopped the San Jose State running back on fourth and one at the USC nine-yard line. From there the Trojans pieced together a 12-play, 91-yard drive. Maiava hit Jayden Dixon-Wyatt on a nine-yard touchdown strike for a 21-0 lead.
On the next possession King Miller finished a six-play, 80-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown jaunt with just 30 seconds left in the second quarter as the Trojans took a 28-0 lead into halftime.
The Spartans moved the ball down to the USC six-yard line in the third quarter before the drive stalled. Trajan Sinatra booted a 22-yard field goal to get San Jose State on the board.
The Trojans responded with a nine-play, 74-yard drive. Maiava threw his second touchdown pass of the day – a 14-yard toss to Mosley for a 35-3 advantage.
San Jose State scored its first touchdown of the game early on the fourth quarter. Luke Weaver hit Jerry McClure over the middle for a 28-yard touchdown. The Spartans also converted the two-point conversion on a Weaver pass to make it 35-11 with 14:56 left.
USC answered on the following series with a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Shahan Alston scored on a one-yard plunge an the Trojans were cruising 42-11 with 9:47 left in the contest.
It looked like the Trojans would coast the rest of the way but the Spartans suddenly found life
San Jose State scored two late touchdowns before the Trojans closed it out. First they marched 75 yards on 11 plays with Luke Weaver connecting with Jordan Andersen on a three-yard scoring strike with 4:31 left.
Then the Spartans took advantage of a short field. They needed just three plays to go 35 yards with Weaver doing the honors with a seven-yard run into the end zone with just 39 seconds remaining. Weaver hit Cooper Hoch on a pass for a two-point conversion for the final count of 42-26.
For the Trojans accumulated the passing yardage by completing 25 of 29 passes. He also had the touchdown running. Jonas Williams came on for Maiava in the fourth quarter and was 5 for 7 for 55 yards. Mosley, a freshman, was the favorite target hauling in seven passes for 118 yards and a score. Tron Baker caught four for 45 and Dixon-Wyatt hid four receptions for 36 yards and a score. Miller led the rushing attack with 63 yards on 15 carries Waymond Jordan had eight for 48.
For San Jose State Weaver was 21 of 32 for 234 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the Spartans leading rusher with 42 yards and a score on eight carries. Carson Clark had 74 yards receiving on six catches and McClure hauled in six for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Next up for the Trojans is a home game Friday night against Fresno State.
SJS 0 0 3 23 26
USC 7 21 7 7 42
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That crowd looked like a UFL game.
@ Funny Protocol: Stay hydrated, my friends. Also, play and stand in the shade whenever possible. (Unfortunately, that’s impossible during an early-afternoon game at the Coliseum.)
I just read on the Trojan website that, when conditions are extreme, the team will reschedule games to a more appropriate time and place. So I guess temperatures exceeding 100 degrees with 70% humidity are well below the threshold (when television money is involved).