By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
It was a wild shootout, but No. 12 USC remained unbeaten as quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and King Miller rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown in a 42-35 victory over Rutgers in the Big Ten opener for both teams before 43,045 fans.
The Trojans (4-0) never trailed, building a 35-21 cushion with 5:52 left in the third quarter. Rutgers (0-3) closed the gap to 35-28 before the teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
USC played without freshman receiver Trent Mosley, who sat out with a knee injury. Fellow freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt stepped up with five catches for 77 yards.
Running back Riley Wormley rushed for a touchdown and later caught a scoring pass that put USC ahead 42-28 with 3:04 remaining.
“I just kept my speed passing the goal line and then eventually got my opportunity,” Wormley said after the game. “I just appreciate Jayden for that.”
For Rutgers, Dylan Lonergan passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns, while Antwan Raymond rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown. The Scarlet Knights fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2008.
Maiava remained efficient while utilizing nine different receivers. In addition to Dixon-Wyatt, Corey Simms caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, while Mark Bowman and Tanook Hines each had three receptions.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley was particularly impressed with Wormley and Simms.
Travel Doesn’t Slow Trojans
The game marked Southern Cal’s first trip to the East Coast since playing at Boston College in 2014. Riley said the travel was not responsible for the Trojans’ sluggish stretches.
“I don’t think it (travel) did have an impact,” Riley said. “I thought we started off the game edgy, with momentum, no matter where you’re playing, when you got somebody backed up in their half and you give up a 40-yard play on a fake punt, especially on the road, it just flips momentum, it kind of breathes life into them.”
Senior defensive back Prophet Brown set a school record with a 99-yard interception return.
Pierce Earns National Recognition
USC defensive back Christian Pierce led all tacklers with 11 and was named the Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week following the Trojans’ victory.
Pierce delivered a complete performance with 11 tackles, including six solo stops, one interception and two pass breakups. The interception was his first of the season.
Pierce picked off Lonergan on Rutgers’ second play of the game and returned it 16 yards to the Rutgers 24-yard line. USC scored two plays later, with the interception setting up the Trojans’ first touchdown.
Pierce led all tracked defensive backs nationally in tackles during Week 3. His physical play and steady presence provided a spark for USC’s secondary throughout the road victory.
Oregon Comes to the Coliseum
No. 12 USC returns home to welcome No. 20 Oregon to the Coliseum for its Big Ten home opener.
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, Sept. 26. The game will air live on NBC.