By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – USC rallied from a 21-7 second quarter deficit to beat Iowa 26-21 Saturday before 65,216 rain soaked fans at United Airlines Field at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
With USC down 21-19 late in the third quarter Jahkeem Stewart intercepted a Mark Gronowski pass off a deflection and the Trojans had the ball at the Iowa 40-yard line. USC took advantage of the turnover with a six-play, 40-yard drive. Bryan Jackson picked up his second score of the day with a one-yard blast into the endzone. The Trojans had their first lead of the day at 26-21 with 13:36 left in the fourth quarter.
Iowa had the ball with an opportunity at the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter but the Hawkeyes turned the ball over on downs with 1:59 left on an incomplete pass and USC ran out the clock.
Iowa opened the scoring marching 69 yards on 7 plays on the first possession. Gronowski hit Dayton Howard with a two-yard touchdown pass to put the Hawkeyes up 7-0.
Later in the quarter USC was stopped on fourth and one at their own 45 as King Miller was met at the line of scrimmage and Iowa took over there.
Iowa cashed in on the short field. Gronowski scored on a one-yard run to finish the drive with 14:12 left in the second quarter to give the Hawkeyes a 14-0 lead.
The Trojans answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by Jackson with a two-yard touchdown run. with 9:15 left in the second quarter.
Iowa came right back on the next possession. The Hawkeyes marched 75 yards on nine plays and finished it with a little trickery. Wide receiver Reece Vander Zee took a pitch on a reverse then hit a wide open Gronowski, who was now playing the role of receiver, in the endzone for the score. Iowa’s lead was back to two touchdowns with 3:24 left in the second quarter.
The Trojans drove down to the Iowa 13-yard line on the next possession but a penalty pushed them back and the drive stalled. Ryon Sayeri kicked a 41-yard field goal with 39 seconds left in the first half.
Iowa took the 21-10 lead into the half.
USC’s defense shut out Iowa in the second half and the Trojans took control. They took the second half kickoff and worked their way down to the Iowa 12-yard line on a couple of nice grabs by Makai Lemon. But the drive stalled and Sayeri booted a 29-yard field goal to cut the Iowa lead to 21-13.
The Trojans promptly forced an Iowa punt and set up shop again. They drove 82 yards on nine plays with Lemon making a big catch along the way. Maiava then connected with Lemon in the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown. Lemon remarkably pulled the catch down in between two defenders to cut the lead to 21-19. USC went for two but Maiava’s pass fell incomplete with 3:33 left in the third.
On the next series Stewart came up with the interception and the Trojans cashed in and then held on.
Lemon had a big night for USC with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. Ja’Kobi Lane had 7 for 65. Miller ran for 82 yards and a touchdown. Maiava completed 23 of 32 for yards and the touchdown strike to Lemon.
For Iowa Gronowski wans 12 of 19 for 132 yards and a touchdown and the interception. Kamari Moulton rushed for 90 yards on 15 carries.
The Trojans improved to 8-2 with victory while Iowa fell to 6-4. USC has two key games remaining. The Trojans will travel to Oregon next Saturday before returning home to face UCLA in the season finale. USC is looking to win out to have a shot to secure a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Iowa 7 14 0 0 21
USC 0 10 9 7 26
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All that remains for the Trojans is to find a way past those pesky Oregon Ducks, then to trash UCLA so soundly that their name will actually be Burins.
Beating Iowa is a must if USC is to retain hope of making the 12 team playoff tournament. Key to winning is stopping the visitors’ run game. Easier said than done, considering that run defense if probably the Trojans’ achilles heel. The rain should help, because teams usually run more than pass in these conditions, so the Trojan D can concentrate more on that aspect of their strategy.