Los Angeles, CA – Former USC coach Clay Helton returned to Southern California with Georgia Southern in what turned into a dominating 59-20 USC victory on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 412 yards and four touchdowns while Junior College transfer Waymond Jordan rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown.
“Teams that win the explosive play battles typically win games, so it’s good,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “I mean, we’re making some big plays on all sides, which is great. It doesn’t mean it will always be like that, so we’re also looking to play clean and very efficient as well … but we’re certainly not disappointed about the big plays.”
The Trojans finished with 755 total yards. Makai Lemon had touchdown receptions of 62 and 74 yards in the first quarter. Running back Eli Sanders added two touchdowns.
USC’s first drive of the game resulted in a fumble by Jordan. Georgia Southern capitalized on the turnover with a Weston Bryan 32-yard touchdown pass to Camden Brown for a 6-0 lead. Georgia Southern missed the extra point.
USC came right back with a spectacular one-handed touchdown from Ja’Kobe Lane to take a 7-6 lead. On the Trojans ensuing drive Maiava hit Lemon for a 62-yard touchdown.
The Trojans got the ball back and Maiava hit Lemon again for a 74-yard touchdown. Lemon juked multiple defenders en route to his second touchdown of the game and a USC 21-6 lead in the first quarter.
Georgia Southern refused to back down and drove down the field to score on a JC French IV 24-yard touchdown pass to Camden Brown with 3:19 left in the second quarter.
After USC added a field goal, the Trojans got the ball back and scored on a Maiava 14-yard touchdown pass to Walker Lyons for a 31-13 lead heading into halftime.
Jordan opened the second half with a 36-yard touchdown run to give the Trojans a 38-13 lead. The USC defense forced a punt and Sanders capped a 4-play, 72-yard drive with a touchdown run from a yard out to give USC a 45-13 lead in the third quarter.
The Eagles came right back when French IV hit Daley Cobb for a 13-yard touchdown with 6:18 left in the third quarter. Sanders scored his second touchdown of the game to give USC a commanding 52-20 lead in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Third-string running back King Miller got into the game and scored on a 41 yard touchdown run.
Helton led USC to a Rose Bowl win and a Pac-12 title during his tenure as head coach.
I’m very grateful that I got be a Trojan for 12 seasons,” Helton said. “I will always hold this place near and dear to my heart. It’s one of those special places. You get to be a part of it, and you know it’s not going to last forever. You hope it does, but I got to be a part of it.”
Up next for USC is the Big 10 opener versus Purdue on Sept. 13.
