LIVE: Final - USC 28, Maryland 29
Follow along with WeAreSC as we provide live running updates before and during the Big Ten conference game between the USC Trojans and Maryland Terrapins.
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The Big Ten availability report is out. USC will be without defensive end Anthony Lucas, linebacker Eric Gentry, and offensive linemen Micah Banuelos and Gino Quinones. Lucas and Gentry were expected additions to the report this week after it was announced that both will be out for the remainder of the season. Lucas underwent a procedure on his leg after leaving the Penn State game due to injury. Gentry has missed the past several games after sustaining a concussion against Wisconsin and said he will sit out the remainder of the season and take a redshirt year.
Banuelos has missed nearly all of the season due to injury. Quinones dressed for the game against Penn State but didn’t go through pregame warmups.
Tight end Lake McRee and cornerback Jacobe Covington are both listed as questionable. McRee was injured against Michigan and is ahead of schedule in his rehab and is warming up with the team ahead of the game. Covington could be a bit farther behind in his recovery from an injury suffered against Minnesota.
Game captains for USC: WR Kyle Ford, OG Emmanuel Pregnon, CB Jaylin Smith, S Bryson Shaw
* It looks as though the Trojans will be without freshman tight end Walker Lyons, who is not on the field for early warmups with the skill position players. He was not listed on the availability report.
* Braylan Shelby is going to get the start at defensive end replacing Lucas, according to pregame warmups. John Humphrey is set to start at cornerback opposite Jaylin Smith.
* USC wins the opening toss and elects to receive to open the game.
First Quarter
* USC starters on offense: Miller Moss, Woody Marks, Elijah Paige, Emmanuel Pregnon, Jonah Monheim, Alani Noa, Mason Murphy, Lake McRee, Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lane, Duce Robinson.
* Pregnon goes down on the second play of the game and is helped off the field. Amos Talalele comes in at left guard to replace him. That’s a huge hit to the line if he can’t come back into this one.
* USC’s drive stalls with a pass play for negative yards and two incompletions that had immediate pressure from the Maryland defense. The Trojans punt and Maryland takes over at its own eight-yard line with 12:09 remaining in the first quarter.
* USC starting defense: Braylan Shelby, Gavin Meyer, Devan Thompkins, Jamil Muhammad, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Mason Cobb, Jaylin Smith, DeCarlos Nicholson, Greedy Vance Jr., Akili Arnold and Kamari Ramsey.
* Mascarenas-Arnold records a sack and Maryland can’t convert a long third-down attempt. USC continues its strong defensive play on third downs this season. Zachariah Branch calls for a fair catch and fields the ball at the 11-yard line with 9:39 remaining in the first quarter.
* USC can’t convert a third-and-six when Duce Robinson gets the ball knocked away from him on a pass from Moss down the field. It’s another USC punt and Maryland takes over at its own 17-yard line.
* USC holds strong with another third-down stop as DeCarlos Nicholson and Jaylin Smith combine to make a tackle. Branch calls another fair catch on a punt that seemed to give him a ton of room to run. It’s USC ball at the 21-yard line with 3:25 left in the first quarter.
* Moss connects with Kyron Hudson for a 22-yard touchdown and USC takes a 7-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter. Maryland kept that drive alive with an illegal substitution penalty on a USC field goal attempt that was pulled wide left.
Second Quarter
* Maryland drives down the field and converts two third-downs on the way to a 16-yard touchdown pass from Billy Edwards Jr. to Octavian Smith. It’s 7-7 with 11:07 remaining in the second quarter.
* Ja’Kobi Lane wins a 50/50 ball with a phenomenal one-handed grab while being held in the endzone. That’s a 15-yard touchdown for the Trojans and USC takes a 14-7 lead with 8:08 left in the second quarter.
* USC’s defense gives up two fourth-down conversions (one on a quarterback sneak, one on an offsides penalty) but finds a way to hold as Maryland misses a 52-yard field goal attempt. USC takes over at its own 34-yard line with 3:03 remaining in the half.
* The Trojans can’t take advantage to score points before half and the drive comes to a halt with a negative pass play and an incompletion. Maryland takes over at its own 27-yard line with 1:47 remaining before halftime.
* Zachariah Branch puts together what feels like his first really positive punt return of the season and the Trojans benefit from a 15-yard penalty against Maryland to start this drive at the Maryland 41-yard line with 1:09 until halftime.
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* Woody Marks pushes his way through multiple Maryland defenders to get into the endzone from five yards out with 21 seconds left in the half. USC pushes its lead to 21-7.
* Just when Maryland looked like they could set themselves up with a field goal attempt to end the half, they snap the ball over the head of the quarterback and USC’s Solomon Tuliaupupu falls on the fumble. USC takes over with just five seconds left in the half.
* The Trojans take a knee to end the first half and will go into halftime with a 21-7 lead. It’s the second week in row they’ve scored at least 20 points in the first half after a string of 10-point first halves to open Big Ten play. It’s also the second week in a row USC takes a 14-point lead into halftime. The Trojans hoping for a better result this week than last against Penn State.
Halftime Stats
Score – USC 21, Maryland 7
Total yards – USC 237, Maryland 183
Rushing yards – USC 31, Maryland 0
Passing yards – USC 196, Maryland 183
Yards per play – USC 6.4, Maryland 5.2
Third-down conversions – USC 2-for-6, Maryland 2-for-8
Turnovers – USC 0, Maryland 1
Third Quarter
* USC’s defense makes a big fourth-down stop as Maryland running back Roman Hemby is tackled by Devan Thompkins and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold on a fourth-and-two. The Trojans take over at their own 35-yard line with 11:47 left in the third quarter. It’s still 21-7 USC.
* Moss makes a bad decision and attempts a long throw to Branch off his back foot. Maryland’s Lavain Scruggs steps in front and picks it off then returns it 51 yards to set up the Terps.
* Maryland gets into the endzone on one play as Edwards hits Tai Felton for an 18-yard score. USC’s lead is suddenly cut to 21-14 with 8:30 remaining in the third quarter.
* USC’s defense bends all the way down to the four-yard line but Jaylin Smith comes up with a big-time interception on fourth down in the endzone and the Trojans will take over at their own 20-yard line with 2:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
* Moss connects with Duce Robinson who bullies his way through three Maryland defensive backs and into the endzone for a 26-yard touchdown. It’s 28-14 USC with 13:31 remaining in the game.
* Ugly tackling from USC on that drive as Maryland converts a fourth down on a missed tackle and then running back Roman Hemby scores from 10 yards out after the Trojans miss at least two tackles. Maryland goes for two and gets it. It’s 28-22 USC with 10:02 remaining.
* The USC offense stalls again after eight plays for 26 yards and Maryland will have a chance to take the lead as the Terps take over at their own three-yard line with 6:37 remaining.
* Kamari Ramsey records a sack on fourth down and USC will take over possession with 2:56 left. The Trojans get a huge stop and have a chance to finish this game now.
* A Michael Lantz field goal attempt is blocked and Maryland brings it all the way back to the USC 47-yard line with 1:51 left and a chance to win it.
* Maryland takes the lead with 53 seconds remaining as Edwards takes it in from three yards out. The kick is through the the Terps are up 29-28 with less than a minute remaining.
* A last-gasp drive by USC comes to an end when Woody Marks gets hit trying to bring in a fourth-down reception. Maryland wins 29-28.
* The Trojans find another way to blow a fourth-quarter lead and drop to 3-4 on the season.
