LIVE: Trojans earn much-needed win against Rutgers
Follow along with WeAreSC’s live updates from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the USC Trojans host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
USC beats Rutgers to move to 4-4
10/25/2024, 11:37:25 PMThe Trojans get 308 passing yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Miller Moss, three scores on the ground from running back Woody Marks and four sacks from the defense as USC records a 42-20 win against Rutgers.
The win moves USC to 4-4 overall, 2-4 in Big Ten play and snaps a three-game losing streak.
Trojans load up on sacks
10/25/2024, 11:35:26 PMUSC safety Zion Branch records a sack on third down for the Trojans’ fourth sack of the day. That’s a season-high for USC, which has struggled all season to get to the quarterback.
Rutgers turns it over on downs and USC takes over with just 2:47 remaining and will win this one.
Lemon’s big day
10/25/2024, 11:02:13 PMMakai Lemon catches a pass and finishes it off 40 yards downfield into the endzone as his huge day continues. He set a career-high in receiving last week with 89 yards against Maryland. He’s set a new mark tonight with four catches for 134 yards and now a touchdown.
USC pushes its lead to 42-20 with just 22 seconds left in the third quarter.
Monangai goes down
10/25/2024, 10:57:48 PMRutgers running back Kyle Monangai takes a hard helmet-to-helmet shot from USC linebacker Mason Cobb and goes down to the ground for an extended period of time. No targeting is called as apparently it’s determined that Cobb didn’t lead with the crown of his helmet. If Monangai can’t return for the Scarlet Knights, that’s a huge hit to the Rutgers offense.
Moss runs it in
10/25/2024, 10:37:17 PMMiller Moss keeps it and gets around the Rutgers defensive line for a 7-yard touchdown and the Trojans’ fourth score of the day on the ground.
USC got into scoring position thanks to a 70-yard catch and run by Makai Lemon. It was the first pass play of 50 yards or more for the Trojans this season.
USC takes a 35-20 lead with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter.
USC secondary suffering
10/25/2024, 10:28:27 PMThe lack of starters on the field and depth behind the reserves is starting to show up as Rutgers drives down the field on the strength of a 45-yard deep ball followed by a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to Christian Dremel. Those to flip the script for the two-point conversion as Dremel hits Kaliakmanis in the endzone.
Suddenly it’s 28-20 USC and the Trojans are facing down the early signs of another second-half comeback by an opponent.
Trojans give it right back
10/25/2024, 10:22:17 PMUSC gives it right back to Rutgers with a four-play drive that features two incompletions. Rutgers takes over at its own 14-yard line with 11:25 left in the second half as USC misses a chance to keep its foot on the gas and stretch the lead.
The game’s first punt
10/25/2024, 10:12:00 PMUSC opens the second half with a strong defensive stand and a three-and-out. It’s the first punt of the game for either team and the Trojans will take over at their own 30-yard line.
That’s the first Rutgers drive to last fewer than eight plays tonight as the Trojans get off the field quickly to start the second half.
Halftime Stats
10/25/2024, 9:48:03 PMScore – USC 28, Rutgers 12
Total yards – USC 244, Rutgers 232
Passing yards – USC 172, Rutgers 124
Rushing yards – USC 72, Rutgers 108
Third-down conversions – USC 2-for-2, Rutgers 5-for-10
Turnovers – USC 0, Rutgers 0
Punts – USC 0, Rutgers 0
Passing: Miller Moss – 14-for-16 for 172 yards and a touchdown
Rushing: Woody Marks – 10 carries for 67 yards and three touchdowns
Receiving: Marks four receptions for 36 yards
Defense: Easton Mascarenas-Arnold eight tackles, one tackle for loss
Defense: Gavin Meyer two tackles, one sack
USC leads Rutgers 28-12 at halftime
10/25/2024, 9:46:25 PMUSC holds on third down but Rutgers connects on a 20-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. It’s 28-12 USC heading into the locker room.
Woody, Woody, Woody
10/25/2024, 9:27:08 PMUSC running back Woody Marks goes into the endzone for the third time tonight. This one is a 22-yard run. The veteran back is up to 67 yards and the Trojans are out to a 28-9 lead with 1:53 remaining in the first half.
That ties a career-high for touchdowns in a game for Marks and it’s the first time in his career he’s scored three touchdowns rushing in a game.
Rutgers stays in it
10/25/2024, 9:14:22 PMRutgers converted two short third-down situations on the way to a 75-yard touchdown drive. The Scarlet Knights missed the extra point, but Rutgers already has 180 total yards of offense at the 4:37 mark of the second quarter. It’s 21-9 USC.
Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis came into the game with a 53.3% completion rate. He’s at 67% on 6-of-9 passing for 83 yards to this point and it’s mostly been to wide open receivers on the perimeter.
USC continues rolling on offense
10/25/2024, 9:00:17 PMThe Trojans can’t be stopped on offense right now. Moss finds wide receiver Kyle Ford who stiff arms a defender and takes it 11 yards into the endzone.
Moss is now 11-for-13 for 127 yards and a score. That’s the first touchdown of the season for Ford, who has a season-high three receptions and 48 receiving yards now.
Trojans get it back
10/25/2024, 8:52:33 PMUSC gets the ball back after a Rutgers deep ball attempt on fourth down falls incomplete. The Trojans got a third-down stop on the drive, but allowing fourth-down conversions has been an issue all season for the Trojans. That’s a big stop early in the second quarter for the Trojans.
The Trojans take over at their own 30-yard line leading 14-3 and a chance to open this one up.
Another one for Marks
10/25/2024, 8:37:04 PMUSC gets its biggest play of the season with an 80-yard kickoff return from Makai Lemon and Marks goes in for his second touchdown of the game four plays later.
The Trojans go up 14-0 with 2:19 left.
That’s the first time this season USC has scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the game.
Rutgers gets on the board
10/25/2024, 8:28:53 PMUSC has very few answers for Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai on the opening drive for the Scarlet Knights. Monangai carries the ball seven times for 50 yards but the USC defense rises up in the redzone and forces a 26-yard field goal.
It’s 7-3 Trojans at the 4:10 mark of the first quarter.
USC strikes first
10/25/2024, 8:12:16 PMThe Trojans march their opening drive 77 yards down the field and running back Woody Marks gets into the endzone for his sixth score on the ground this season. USC takes a 7-0 lead with 9:58 remaining in the first quarter.
Quarterback Miller Moss went 4-for-4 for 47 yards on the drive. Marks rushed five times for 27 yards and the score.
Wide receiver Jay Fair had a heads up play on the drive when he recovered a fumble by receiver Kyle Ford.
More calls going against the Trojans
10/25/2024, 8:10:56 PMThe Big Ten officiating makes sure to strike early in this one as a touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Zachariah Branch was overturned by video replay that said Branch lost control while going to the ground.
That’s very, very difficult to see on replay and another Big Ten replay review that goes against USC this year.
USC to receive
10/25/2024, 7:59:28 PMUSC won the opening coin toss and elects to receive the kick. The Trojans’ offense will head out onto the field to open this one. USC has just one opening-drive touchdown this season. It came against Wisconsin.
Tight end returns
10/25/2024, 7:31:03 PMIt looks like USC will get true freshman tight end Walker Lyons back into the fold against Rutgers after he missed last week’s game against Maryland. The Trojans should be fully healthy at tight end for the first time in a while as veteran starter Lake McRee returned last week after missing the previous three games due to an injury suffered against Michigan.
Trojans light on defensive backs against Rutgers
10/25/2024, 7:09:35 PMIt looks like the injury report will hold true and the Trojans will be without a number of starters in the secondary. The team is out on the field going through position-group warmups. Cornerbacks Jaylin Smith and Jacobe Covington, safety Kamari Ramsey and nickelback Greedy Vance Jr. are not participating. All were listed as “questionable” coming into the game. True freshman cornerback Marcelles Williams is not warming up with the defensive back group either.
USC game captains
10/25/2024, 6:46:09 PMThe Trojans have announced their game captains for this one. Center Jonah Monheim, tight end Lake McRee, safety Akili Arnold and cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson get the nod.
Keeping an eye on the injuries
10/25/2024, 6:43:38 PMDefensive back Greedy Vance Jr. looks like he’ll sit this one out. He’s in uniform but not in pads and isn’t warming up early with the team.
Offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon is going through early warmups with the offensive linemen. His right knee is wrapped but looks to be moving okay. He’s consistently been USC’s best offensive lineman this season and not having him tonight would be a big hit.
USC possibly without several starters
10/25/2024, 6:30:26 PMThe Big Ten availability report is out and it’s not good news for USC, especially in the defensive backfield. Four starters in the USC secondary are listed as questionable for this game, including standout safety Kamari Ramsey, nickelback Greedy Vance Jr. and cornerbacks Jacob Covington and Jaylin Smith. USC starting left guard Emmanuel Pregnon is also listed as questionable.
The Trojans is back from Maryland and on a short week playing Friday night, which didn’t allow several players the extra day to get ready for a game.
Ramsey could be a big loss if he doesn’t go. The Trojans will have to deal with the Rutgers running back and power back Kyle Monangai in this one.
