LOS ANGELES — USC got another near-perfect night from quarterback Jayden Maiava and a dominant showing from its defense in a 39-0 victory over Fresno State on Friday night at the Coliseum.
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Maiava completed 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns, as the 14th-ranked Trojans built on their season-opening victory over San Jose State last weekend. True freshman Trent Mosley was the leading receiver for the second straight game with six catches for 104 yards and two TDs, while the defense limited Fresno State to 116 yards of total offense.
USC (2-0) allowed just 49 yards through the first three quarters while recording two safeties and forcing two turnovers under new coordinator Gary Patterson.
The Trojans had a 30-0 lead by halftime, but they struggled to get their running game going and collected just 73 yards on the ground in the first two quarters.
The one rushing touchdown was punched in by Waymond Jordan on a 2-yard run at the tail end of a two-minute drill just before halftime.
Receiver Tanook Hines quickly made his presence known after sitting out the season opener with an injury. Maiava extended USC’s opening drive with a deep, 42-yard pass to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt on fourth down and, two plays later, he dropped back and weaved his way through the trenches to get off an 8-yard touchdown pass to Hines.
Safety Prophet Brown intercepted Bulldogs quarterback Jayden Mandal, who was named the starter earlier this week, to cut Fresno State’s first drive short. USC gave up the ball shortly after, however, when defensive lineman Dylan Hampsten punched the ball out of Jordan’s grip to force a fumble.
USC’s defense gained momentum as the opening half went on, and safety Kennedy Urlacher shined on two big plays.
He sprinted off the edge and charged at Mandal, knocking him into the end zone and off the field for a safety with 7:09 left in the second quarter. He blitzed the quarterback again later in the half for a strip sack, and Floyd Boucard scooped up the ball to get his team possession at the 20-yard line.
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Meanwhile, on offense, the Trojans added three more touchdowns before the halftime break – including Mosley’s two TD catches.
Maiava hit the freshman with a deep pass, and Mosley juked a defender to stay in bounds to polish off a 68-yard touchdown at the 12:27 mark. Mosley was waiting in the corner of the end zone for his other touchdown – a 9-yard strike.
Jordan’s rushing touchdown extended the lead to 30-0 with 14 seconds on the clock.
The USC defense continued to hold off Fresno State the rest of the night and added two more points on an Alex Graham safety with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
The offense struggled to score as second- and third-string players entered the game.
Dixon-Wyatt fumbled the ball near the 10-yard line on the first drive of the third quarter and the Trojans were unable to convert on third down at the end of the period. Jonas Williams had come in to replace Maiava, who played just one series after halftime.
Deshonne Redeaux burst into the end zone on an 8-yard run for his first collegiate touchdown with 5:46 left in the game.
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