No 7 Trojans take Fresno State Bulldogs for a 45-17 walk in Exposition Park
The No. 7 USC Trojans (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) flexed their considerable offensive muscle in grinding down the Fresno State Bulldogs 45-17 in the Coliseum, scoring over 40 points in their third consecutive game, thus setting up a battle of unbeatens next Saturday night in Corvallis, Oregon, when the Men of Troy battle Oregon State, which is also 3-0 on the season. More game stories and column reviews to follow.
Below is the running game thread. You can also visit and read the game thread on the WeAreSC Members Only message board.
Pregame
USC is back home in the Coliseum for its first true night game of the season.
* A couple of nailbiters for USC’s rivals today. UCLA escaped South Alabama when the Bruins kicked a field goal with no time remaining in front of dozens (DOZENS!) of people at the Rose Bowl. And Notre Dame also got the first win of the Marcus Freeman era when a Cal Hail Mary fell incomplete.
* There’s a huge group of recruits expected tonight. USC is making every home game a showcase with a loaded visitor list.
* True freshman cornerback Domani Jackson is going through warmups with the cornerbacks. He hasn’t played in a game this season due to an unspecified injury.
* Defensive lineman De’jon Benton is going through warmups with the defensive linemen. He missed the Stanford game due to an injury suffered against Rice.
* Rush end Romello Height is not participating in early warmups tonight. He left the Stanford game early with a shoulder injury.
* True freshman safety Zion Branch is in uniform and participating in parts of warmups. Branch has not seen action this year after suffering what head coach Lincoln Riley called a “lower extremity” injury during summer workouts in late June.
* Left tackle Bobby Haskins is warming up with the first-team offensive line.
* It won’t be a sellout crowd tonight, but it’s loud before the game. There is a lot of energy in the Coliseum tonight. Hasn’t felt like this in a while.
First Quarter
* USC wins the coin toss and elects to receive.
* USC goes 83 yards in 12 plays and caps the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Jordan Addison. That’s the fifth touchdown reception for Addison this year, who now has one in all three games. Big plays on that drive include an 11-yard catch by Addison on 3rd-and-11, and a pass interference flag against Fresno State on another third down.
* After a three-and-out from Fresno State, USC goes 12 plays once again for a touchdown. This drive ends with Williams putting a great move on a defender in space and getting into the endzone from eight yards out. It’s 14-0 USC with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter.
Second Quarter
* Fresno State gets on the board with a short field goal. USC linebacker Eric Gentry had a nice pass deflection on third down to force the field goal. USC leads 14-3 with 14:52 left in the second quarter.
* Another methodical offensive drive for the Trojans as USC goes 83 yards in 15 plays. Williams sneaks the ball in from one yard out for his second rushing touchdown of the game. USC leads 21-3 with 8:02 left in the second quarter.
* An explosive play for Fresno State. Quarterback Jake Haener finds wide receiver Erik Brooks over the middle. Brooks escapes a tackle attempt from USC safety Calen Bullock and races the final 35 yards into the endzone. Fresno State cuts the USC lead to 21-10 with 6:30 left in the half.
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* Some rough moments for the USC offense late in the first half. Trojans punted on their final two drives of the half. USC’s defense holds and tight end Malcolm Epps (back deep on defense) intercepts a hail mary in the endzone as time expires. It’s 21-10 at halftime.
Third Quarter
* A huge play in the game, and very unfortunate for Fresno State. USC rush end Solomon Byrd gets around the edge and sacks quarterback Jake Haener. Byrd forced a fumble and recovered it. Haener stayed down and was eventually carted off the field.
* USC capitalizes on the turnover. Austin Jones goes in from three yards out to push the USC lead to 28-10 with 11:14 remaining in the third quarter.
* USC forces a Fresno State third-and-five and then gets carved up. Bulldogs get an eight-yard pass for a first down. Then two misdirection plays net a 26-yard pass and a 32-yard touchdown run. All with backup quarterback Logan Fife in the game now for Fresno State. It’s 28-17 USC with 9:04 left in the third quarter.
* What a run from Travis Dye. The USC running back breaks five Fresno State tackles on his way to a 25-yard score. It’s the fourth rushing touchdown of the game for the Trojans. USC now leads 35-17 with 7:20 left in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
* The fourth quarter will begin with USC marching and in the redzone. Williams hit Tahj Washington for 21 yards down to the Fresno State 5-yard line on the final play of the third quarter. USC still leads 35-17.
* Malcolm Epps catches another ball. This time it’s on offense as he scores on a 10-yard pass from Williams. It’s 42-17 Trojans with 14:47 left in the game. USC has scored at least 40 points in all three games this season.
* Denis Lynch kicks a 41-yard field goal. USC pushes the lead to 45-17 with 4:09 left and attention can officially shift to next week’s trip to Oregon State.
* Trojans go to 3-0 on the season as a Trojans’ goal line stand at the end of the game followed by final snaps by backup Miller Moss ends the game.
