MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Los Angeles) – Jayden Maiava threw for three touchdowns and ran for one in his first start for USC to lead the Trojans to a 28-20 win over Nebraska Saturday at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

Maiava scored on a two-yard run with 2:45 left in the game to put USC up by eight points but then the Trojans had to hold on to get the victory. The Cornhuskers marched down to the USC 14 and were in a position to tie but Dylan Raiola’s pass was intercepted in the endzone by Greedy Vance Jr. as time expired and USC escaped with the victory.

The start wasn’t as successful as the finish. On the Trojans’ second possession Nebraska scored the first points of the game when Ceyair Wright picked off Maiava and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. The pick six gave Nebraska a 7-0 lead.

Maiava, who was named the starter for Miller Moss by head coach Lincoln Riley last week, answered right away.

He led USC on a 9-play, 65-yard drive to get even. Maiava hit Zachariah Branch on a six-yard touchdown pass with 5:04 left in the first quarter to tie it at seven.

The Trojans then marched 86 yards on eight plays capped by a 12-yard scoring strike from Maiava to Kyron Hudson, who initially juggled the ball before securing it, early in the second quarter as USC took a 14-7 lead.

On the next possession the Cornhuskers drove 75 yards on nine plays. Raiola hit Emmett Johnson on a swing pass and he was off to the races going 29 yards down the sideline for six. Nebraska tied it at 14 with 9:21 left in the second quarter.

Jaylin Smith intercepted Raiola at the USC 35 with 4:01 left in the second quarter but the Trojans were unable to take advantage and had to punt it back to Nebraska.

The teams went into the halftime break tied at 14.

Nebraska took the lead on the first possession of the third quarter. The Cornhuskers drive stalled at the 12-yard line where John Hohl kicked a 29-yard field goal for a 17-14 lead.

On the next possession Maiava hit Duce Robinson in stride on a 40-yard touchdown pass down the near sideline and USC regained the lead 21-17.

Later in the third quarter Maiava fumbled and Nebraska recovered deep in Trojans territory but the Trojans escaped further damage as the Huskers could only manage a 30-yard field goal with 2:09 left to cut the lead to 21-20.

The Trojans then drove down to the Nebraska 12-yard line but the drive stalled. Michael Lantz then attempted a 27-yard field goal that was blocked and the USC lead remained at one point with just under 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Maiava’s TD and Vance’s pick proved enough for USC to emerge with the victory.

Maiava finished the day 25 of 35 for 259 yards and three touchdowns and the pick. Robinson caught four passes for 90 yards and a score and Branch had six catches for 41 yards. Woody Marks didn’t score but he ran for 146 yards on 19 carries.

For the Cornhuskers Raiola was 27 of 38 for 191 yards and a touchdown but he was saddled with two interceptions. Nebraska rushed for 191 yards as a team.

USC improved to 5-5 overall with the win and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Nebraska has now lost four straight and dropped to 5-5 and 3-4 in Conference.

NEB 7 7 6 0 20

USC 7 7 7 7 28