LOS ANGELES– NO. 14 USC obliterated the Fresno State Bulldogs with a 39-0 victory on a special edition of Friday night football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans were ferocious, with their imposing defense forcing two safeties in the statement victory.
USC improves to 2-0 on the season, after an uneven 42-26 victory over San Jose State in the season opener. Anything short of reaching the College Football Playoffs is a failure.
Even though USC easily beat the visiting San Jose State Spartans last week, the defense allowed far too many points and yards. In addition, the lack of a crowd was criticized by fans and critics.
That is not entirely fair to call out the USC fanbase. Last Saturday was sweltering with the thermostat reaching triple digits. Facing frankly inferior competition. Also, a majority of the points the Trojans gave up were allowed in garbage time, with victory already securely in hand.
Heisman hopeful Jayden Maiava had another stellar performance against Fresno State. passing for 349 yards while throwing two of his three touchdowns to Wide Receiver Trent Mosley.
“Pretty complete game from the team,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “Very excited about how we finished it off.”
We are well aware USC has an outstanding offense, it’s the defense that must step up in order to beat the stiff BIG 10 competition. New Defensive Coordinator Gary Patterson is doing a wonderful job so far.
USC’s defense gave an impressive effort, allowing just 116 yards, a paltry 49 through three quarters. While recording two safeties and forcing two turnovers. Fresno State managed 2.6 yards per play.
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.
“We’re all on the same page and playing at a really high level, but obviously there are some things to clean up,” Maiava said. He easily could have padded his stats had he remained in the game.
Mosley’s 68-yard TD reception was the play of the night. After catching it wide open, he juked the Fresno State corner back taking it to the house for a breathtaking play.
It was a brutal loss for Fresno State. Jayden Mandal passed for 77 yards and committed two turnovers 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.
USC’s defense added its first safety when 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.
USC 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 No. 2 Oregon visits Sept. 26, and the Trojans aced it with two fumbles and a turnover on downs for good measure.
USC: Hosts Louisiana on Sept. 12.
