09/04/26 11:17:00
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09/04 23:16 CDT Maiava passes for 349 yards, hits frosh Mosley for 2 TDs in No.
14 USC's 39-0 rout of Fresno State
Maiava passes for 349 yards, hits frosh Mosley for 2 TDs in No. 14 USC's 39-0
rout of Fresno State
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Jayden Maiava passed for 349 yards and threw two of his
three touchdown passes to freshman Trent Mosley, and No. 14 Southern California
rolled to a 39-0 victory over Fresno State on Friday night.
Tanook Hines also had a TD reception, and freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt had six
catches for 102 yards as the Trojans (2-0) followed up their Week 0 win over
San Jose State by comprehensively dominating the Bulldogs (0-1).
USC's defense gave an impressive effort under new coordinator Gary Patterson,
allowing just 116 yards --- a paltry 49 through three quarters --- while
recording two safeties and forcing two turnovers.
Maiava went 23 of 25 while playing just one series after halftime. Mosley, his
new favorite target after a 118-yard debut last week, caught a 68-yard TD pass
early and added a 10-yard scoring catch shortly before halftime, finishing with
four catches for 104 yards.
Jayden Mandal passed for 77 yards in his second career start for the Bulldogs,
who last beat USC in 1992. Fresno State couldn't compete in its first game
against a ranked opponent under head coach Matt Entz, the former USC assistant
who took over the Bulldogs last season.
Hines' TD catch capped USC's opening drive, and Mosley romped to his long TD
after getting wide open down the middle. USC's defense added its first safety
when a blitzing Kennedy Urlacher got to Mandal.
After Mosley's second TD catch, Urlacher forced a fumble by Mandal. Waymond
Jordan rushed for a TD and a 30-0 halftime lead.
The takeaway
The Trojans were largely excellent on both sides of the ball, with Maiava
carving up the Bulldogs' secondary and the USC defense showing more capability
after a vanilla opener. This matchup looks like USC's biggest test before
Oregon visits on Sept. 26, and the Trojans aced it --- two fumbles and a
turnover on downs notwithstanding.
Up next
Fresno State: Hosts Sacramento State on Sept. 12.
USC: Hosts Louisiana on Sept. 12.
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