By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – Jayden Maiava threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns and Trent Mosley had over 100 yards receiving and a pair of scores as USC shutout Fresno State 39-0 Friday night before 53, 014 at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. But the offense was only half of the story. The defense was the other half with five sacks, one turnover and two safeties and more importantly zero points allowed.
The defense also held the Fresno State offense to 77 passing yards and 39 rushing yards for a total of 116. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to score late in the fourth quarter but the drive was stopped in the red zone on, of course, a sack. The Trojans then ran out the clock.
The offense got things started as USC went right down the field on the first possession. Jayden Maiava hit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt on a fourth down and five conversion and then capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Tanook Hines. The Trojans drove 82 yards on 12 plays to go up 7-0.
On the next possession the defense got into the act. Prophet Brown intercepted Fresno State quarterback Jayden Mandal and the Trojans took over at their own 15-yard line.
The drive stalled however when Waymond Jordan was hit and coughed up the ball after a pass reception. Fresno State recovered at its own 43-yard line.
The Trojans defense held again and took over after a Bulldog punt. USC then hit Fresno State with a big play. Maiava hit a wide- open Mosley who outran the secondary for a 68-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
The Trojans were stopped on fourth down on the Fresno State 13-yard line with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter as Maiava was stonewalled at the line of scrimmage.
However on the next series the Trojans’ D stepped up again. Kennedy Urlacher knocked Mandal out of the back of the end zone for a safety with 7:09 left in the second quarter.
After the safety the Trojans marched 65 yards on five plays. Maiava hit Mosley on a 10-yard scoring strike. Mosley put a nifty move on the Fresno State defender at the goal line to get into the end zone for a 23-0 lead.
The Trojans forced another turnover on the next possession. Mandal was sacked and the ball came loose. Floyd Boucard fell on it at the Bulldog 38. USC capitalized five plays later when Jordan scored on a two-yard blast up the middle.
USC waltzed into the half with a 30-0 lead.
In the third quarter the Trojans drove all the way down to the Fresno State seven-yard line but Dixon-Wyatt fumbled after catching a pass from Maiava and Fresno State recovered. But the defense responded once more. On the first play first from scrimmage for Fresno State Alex Graham sacked the quarterback in the end zone for a safety.
Jonas Williams came on for Maiava at quarterback for the Trojans on the following possession.
The Trojans continued to hold off Fresno State and tacked on one more score in the fourth quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by Deshonne Redeaux for the final tally.
With the offense thriving and the defensive throttling the Trojans dominated from beginning to end.
USC improved to 2-0 with the victory while Fresno State is 0-1. The Trojans will face Louisiana next Saturday night at 8:00 PM at the Coliseum.
FSU 0 0 0 0 0
USC 7 23 2 7 39
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I’m eager to see how Bob Chesney debuts at UCLA. I view this season as his audition for the Trojan Job.