Makai Lemon got here screaming throughout the middle of the sphere, gliding previous one Michigan State defender, then one other, shifting as if the world round him have been in sluggish movement.
USC’s high receiver had presumably been a top-line focus of the Spartans’ recreation plan — and much more so after fellow wideout Ja’Kobi Lane was dominated out Saturday with an damage. However right here was Lemon slicing his method by Michigan State’s secondary as if nobody had bothered to inform him as a lot, sprinting free as a deep move soared in his path and hit him in good stride.
Most of Saturday evening’s 45-31 win over Michigan State felt that seamless for USC, which moved the ball with ease on offense, racking up 517 yards within the course of. However in a swirl of penalties and poor self-discipline from its protection, USC inexplicably discovered itself clinging to a one-score lead within the fourth quarter.
It was the kind of stumble that may’ve prompted flashbacks from the Trojans’ earlier convention, when #Pac12AfterDark derailed quite a lot of seasons whereas the remainder of America slept. Although, as late as Saturday’s recreation ran — with its conclusion coming simply earlier than 3 a.m. Japanese time — there could be no such comeback from Michigan State.
That’s as a result of USC mounted a 13-play drive with its again in opposition to the wall within the fourth quarter, at one level even changing a essential fourth down close to midfield. It additionally wanted a facemask penalty from Michigan State on a key third all the way down to preserve the drive alive.
On the very subsequent play, Lemon went sprinting on a jet movement, took the handoff and flew into the tip zone. His second rating of the evening would put the Spartans away for good.
With Lane out, Lemon would account for over half of the Trojans’ passing output, as he completed with eight receptions for 127 yards and a landing, the overwhelming majority of which got here within the first half. USC’s subsequent best pass-catcher was working again Waymond Jordan, who had 25 receiving yards.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava didn’t have to do way more by the air after halftime. He completed with a season-low 234 yards, however accomplished 20 of 26 passes and added three passing touchdowns, to go along with one other on the bottom.
USC’s dashing assault did many of the harm, with Jordan and Eli Sanders combining for 241 on 31 carries.
USC working again Eli Sanders runs with the ball throughout a win over Michigan State on Saturday evening.
(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Occasions)
As soon as once more, USC would pay a severe value for its propensity for penalties. The Trojans have been known as for 10 penalties for 88 yards, making it three consecutive video games by which they misplaced at the very least that many yards as a consequence of penalties. Over these three weeks, USC has been known as for 27 penalties.
The Trojans move rush continued to look much-improved, however their secondary didn’t precisely soothe considerations Saturday. Spartan quarterback Aidan Chiles solely threw for 212 yards, however 169 of these yards — virtually 80% — got here on simply 4 move performs.
The highway solely will get tougher from right here for USC (4-0). The Trojans’ subsequent three video games (Illinois, Michigan and Notre Dame) come in opposition to ranked opponents, and two of these video games (Illinois and Notre Dame) are on the highway. And whereas the Irish are 1-2, and the Illini have been simply steamrolled by Indiana on Saturday, each ought to present a lot harder exams than the Trojans have confronted up to now.
USC ought to have its different high wideout again for that stretch as properly. Lane, who was listed as questionable, got here out with the workforce for early stretches. However when the workforce reemerged in full pads for warm-ups, the Trojans stud receiver was sporting sweatpants.
With out one in every of their high targets, USC tried to lean on its backs early. Twelve of the Trojans’ first 16 performs went to both Waymond Jordan or Eli Sanders. But it surely was Maiava who punched in USC’s first rating after he faked a handoff and sprinted 15 yards to paydirt.
Michigan State (3-1), in the meantime, took to the air to problem the Trojans’ struggling secondary. On the Spartans’ first possession, Chiles discovered Chrishon McCray extensive open for a 42-yard landing, and Michigan State took an early lead.
Chiles accomplished every of his first seven passes. However with their run recreation utterly grounded, the Spartans offense got here to a halt. Their subsequent three drives collected a mixed 66 yards.
USC began buzzing within the meantime, gaining at the very least that many yards on 4 of its 5 first-half drives. The dashing assault discovered a rhythm, with seven rushes of 15-plus yards within the first half alone, whereas Maiava moved the ball with ease by the air.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava scores a landing within the first quarter in opposition to Michigan State.
(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Occasions)
Nonetheless, regardless of being outgained by virtually 200 yards earlier than halftime, Michigan State was inside a single rating — and set to obtain the second-half kick — as USC drove 88 yards down the sphere earlier than half. With 37 seconds left, Maiava lofted a move to the nook of the tip zone for freshman Tanook Hines, who reeled within the well-timed, seven-yard rating.
USC seemed prepared to hurry previous Michigan State within the second half because it took simply 4 performs and fewer than two minutes to drive the sphere. Maiava hit tight finish Walker Lyons for a landing, his second in two weeks, to make it 31-10.
However Michigan State mounted an 11-play drive, and USC’s protection chipped in with 4 back-breaking penalties to maintain it shifting. Finally, Chiles punched in a landing himself, slicing the result in two scores.
The momentum swung instantly after that. On the primary play of USC’s ensuing possession, wideout DJ Jordan misplaced a fumble deep within the Trojans’ territory. The turnover opened the door for Michigan State, which wanted eight performs to succeed in paydirt and minimize the result in a single rating.
However USC would slam that door shut on its very subsequent drive, closing the primary quarter of its season with a fourth consecutive victory.
