USC Trojans @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Maiava throws for 277 yards and 2 TDs in No. 12 USC's 42-35 win at Rutgers
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- — Jayden Maiava threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and King Miller ran for 102 yards and a TD to help No. 12 Southern California beat Rutgers 42-35 on Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
The Trojans (4-0) never trailed, building a 35-21 cushion with 5:52 left in the third quarter. Rutgers (0-3) closed to 35-28 in the quarter before the teams traded touchdowns in the fourth.
Trojans star freshman receiver Trent Mosley sat out with a knee injury. Fellow freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt had five catches for 77 yards.
Running back Riley Wormley ran for a TD and caught a touchdown pass that put USC ahead 42-28 with 3:04 to play.
Dylan Lonergan passed for 252 yards and three TDs and Antwan Raymond ran for 122 yards and a touchdown for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are 0-3 for the first time since 2008.
The Trojans need to shore up their defense if they intend to compete with high-powered offenses like Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana. Southern Cal gave up five plays of 20 yards or more against Rutgers. In three games, USC has allowed its opponents to score 10 of 13 times in the red zone.
“We obviously had to play with a lot of different guys in the secondary,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “We had some guys go down throughout the game that weren’t available. I thought we were untimely as a defense."
Rutgers has held a lead in just 2:54 this season when it scored on its opening drive in a 37-21 loss to UMass in the first game and never led against Boston College and USC. Turnovers continue to be a major issue. The Scarlet Knights have a -7 turnover margin after Lonergan's two picks Saturday, including a 99-yard interception by Prophet Brown for a TD.
Dylan Lonergan and AJ Surace have not performed well for Rutgers. The duo has combined for nine interceptions. In Lonergan's case, the picks have come at inopportune times. With Rutgers trailing 20-14 to USC and seemingly moving the ball for a potential tying TD, Lonergan was picked off at the goal line by Brown for a 99-yard game-changing touchdown.
“I love both guys,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “But we can't win when we turn the ball over.”
Maiava compensated with Mosley being out by utilizing nine different receivers. In addition to Dixon-Wyatt, Corey Simms caught four passes for 72 yards and a TD, Mark Bowman and Tanook Hines each caught three passes. Riley was especially impressed with Wormley and Simms.
“I think they (Wormley and Simms) are two of our stronger competitors on the team," Riley said. "Two guys who I never have to worry about their effort or physicality or competitiveness. I think because of that they both were able to stay on the field.”
This was Southern Cal's first trip to the east coast since it played at Boston College in 2014. Riley said the travel didn't affect his team's sluggish play at times. The Trojans gave up a 40-yard pass on a fake punt in the first quarter.
“I don’t think it (travel) did have an impact," Riley said. “I thought we started off the game edgy, with momentum, no matter where you’re playing, when you got somebody backed up in their half and you give up a 40-yard play on a fake punt, especially on the road, it just flips momentum, it kind of breathes life into them.”
USC: Hosts Oregon on Sept. 26.
Rutgers: Hosts Howard on Sept. 25
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