MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Los Angeles) – USC let a lead slip away in the third quarter but restored order and finished strong in the fourth to beat Michigan State 45-31 Saturday night before 67, 641 fans at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

The Trojans were cruising by three touchdowns, 31-10, mid-way through the third quarter when penalties and a turnover allowed Michigan State to get back in the game. After Aidan Chiles hit Jack Velling with a short one-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds left in the third quarter it was suddenly 31-24.

But USC took control in the fourth. Makai Lemon scored on a four-yard run and with just under three minutes left Jayden Maiava scored on a one-yard plunge to make it 45-24 and put the game on ice.

Michigan State scored a late touchdown on a 75-yard pass from Chiles to Omari Kelly but the outcome had already been decided.

USC was stopped after driving down to the Michigan State eight-yard line on the opening possession. Ryon Sayeri kicked a 25-yard field goal to open the scoring.

Michigan State answered with a 6-play, 75-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead. Chiles, the former Downey Vikings star, hit Chrishon McCray on a 42-yard touchdown pass.       

USC came right back with a 6-play, 72-yard march. Maiava capped it with a 15-yard run to put the Trojans back on top.    

Early in the second quarter Maiava connected with Makai Lemon on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Lemon beat the corner and waltzed into the endzone for a 17-7 USC lead. 

After the Trojans were stopped on fourth down at the Michigan State 45-yard line the Spartans moved down the field and Martin Connington kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the SC lead to 17-10. 

USC went 88 yards on 11 plays on the next possession. Maiava capped it with a 7-yard scoring strike to Tanook Hines with 42 seconds left in the first half. 

Michigan State marched down to the USC 38-yard line with three seconds left but Connington missed a 56-yard field goal as the clock expired. The Trojans took a 24-10 lead into the half.   

Just before Maiava’s touchdown pass to Hines there was a long delay as Michigan State’s Wayne Matthews III was carted off the field and loaded into an ambulance after being injured on the previous play. He was able to move his legs and gave a thumbs up as he was being carted off. 

In the third quarter a 40-yard run by Waymond Jordan set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Maiava to Walker Lyons to give the Trojans a 31-10 lead. Everything looked good…until it wasn’t.  

Chiles scored on a four-yard touchdown run to cap an 87-yard Michigan State drive. The scoring march was aided by four Trojan penalties as the Spartans cut the lead to 31-17 with 5:58 left in the third quarter.

Hines fumbled the ball at the Trojans 32-yard line on the next series to set Michigan State up again. They quickly drove 32 yards on eight plays. Chiles connected with Velling for the score and the Spartans were down by just seven heading into the fourth.

Fortunately for the Cardinal and Gold faithful the Trojans got back on track and sealed the victory.

Maiava completed 20 of 26 for 234 yards and 3 touchdowns and also ran for 2 scores. Lemon had 8 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown and also ran for one. Jordan ran for 157 yards on 8 carries.

For the Spartans Chiles was 12 of 21 for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns and Kelly caught 6 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown.

The Trojans remained unbeaten with the victory improving to 4-0. They will face Illinois on the road next week. Michigan State suffered its first loss falling to 3-1.

MSU 07 03 14 07 31

USC 10 14 07 14 45