Los Angeles, CA – Several true freshmen played key roles for USC as the No.1 recruiting class in the nation was on display in the season opener. Freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley caught seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown to help USC with a 42-26 win over San Jose State Saturday afternoon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“He kind of just did what he does in practice,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said on Mosley’s debut. “I don’t think anybody here is very surprised. That’s kind of what it looks like most days.”
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, who’s in his third year as a Trojan, passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns. True freshman Kaden Dixon-Wyatt caught a touchdown in his debut while running backs Riley Wormley and Shahn Alston also scored for the Trojans.
“A bunch of guys got opportunities, and we had several that did not play the way that we anticipated. There will be a lot to learn and grow from. Fourth quarter, not up to our standards.. The way our starters played, that deserved to be a single-digit- score game.”
USC took an early 7-0 lead on Maiava’s 1-yard keeper. The Trojans went on a 13-play, 77-yard drive to take the lead in the first quarter. On the next possession, USC went for it on fourth and goal but Maiava was tackled a yard short of the goal line to turn the ball over on downs.
In the opening drive of the second quarter, redshirt freshman Wormley scored from 5-yards out to give the Trojans a 14-0 lead. After getting a turnover on downs in the red zone, USC drove down the field and capped a 12-play, 91-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Maiava to turn freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.
The Trojans took a 28-0 lead into halftime after King Miller scores on a 4-yard run. Maiava had 17 completions to eight different receivers in the first half.
San Jose State got on the board in the third quarter with a 22-yard field goal Trajan Sinatra. USC answered on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Maiava to true freshman Trent Mosley and the Trojans took a 35-3 lead with 2:28 left in the third quarter.
The Spartans came right back with a Luc Weaver 28-yard touchdown pass to Jerry McClure. The two-point conversion was successful to cut the lead 35-11 in the fourth quarter.
Freshman quarterback Jonas Williams replaced Maiava and drove the Trojans down the field where another freshman running back Alston scored from a yard out to give USC a 42-11 lead with 9:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Weaver, a Hawaii transfer, led the Spartans to three scoring drives in the second half but the game was well out of hand. McClure and Jordan Anderson caught fourth quarter touchdown passes.
Up next for the Trojans is a home game against Fresno State on Friday, Sept. 4..
