Within the final gasps of an in any other case misplaced season, USC’s new quarterback trotted onto the sector Saturday afternoon as a towering 6-foot-5 image of hope. Any final likelihood of the Trojans salvaging their season — or not less than securing a bowl bid — rested on his broad shoulders.
The burden of the second was what Jayden Maiava had transferred to USC to seek out within the first place. Nothing had been assured when he dedicated greater than 10 months earlier, becoming a member of a USC offense that already had a presumptive starter in Miller Moss. The lengthy wait had since solely amped up the anticipation, as Maiava informed himself to “fall in love” with the method, ready his flip. However now the method had led him right here, with all hope of USC ending the season on a excessive observe abruptly hinging on his rocket proper arm.
That hope wavered and wobbled all through a 28-20 win over Nebraska, as USC’s new quarterback seemed equally dynamic and confounding at totally different junctures. Backbreaking errors gave approach to comeback scores. Landing drives gave approach to lengthy lulls on offense.
E-newsletter
Combat on! Are you a real Trojans fan?
Enter electronic mail handle
Signal Me Up
Chances are you’ll often obtain promotional content material from the Los Angeles Occasions.
However after Maiava fumbled away one drive deep in USC’s personal territory, and the Trojans’ particular groups squandered one other with a blocked kick, Maiava stood behind the road on fourth and one, simply throughout midfield. It felt like a well-known fourth-quarter turning level for a staff that had so many instances let late leads slip away.
However as wideout Zachariah Department sprinted into movement, Maiava faked the pop cross and took off to his left, pitching the ball to operating again Woody Marks, who sprinted 34 yards.
4 performs later, Maiava scampered into the top zone for the game-sealing landing.
It was a robust end to what was, at instances, an erratic debut for Maiava, who opened the afternoon with a pick-six.
He bounced again in a giant means from there, throwing for 3 touchdowns and 249 yards in his first begin at USC (5-5, 3-5 Huge Ten).
However it was operating again Marks who as soon as once more proved to be the steadying hand, whilst a brand new quarterback took the reins. Marks ran for 146 yards on 19 carries to go along with six catches for 39 yards.
USC huge receiver Zachariah Department scores on a landing reception within the first half Saturday towards Nebraska.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Nonetheless, the story was Maiava, who grew to become the primary quarterback of Polynesian descent to start out at quarterback for USC.
It took all of two performs for the Trojans to check Maiava’s large arm, as he twice let it fly deep on USC’s first drive. However it took some time longer for USC and its new quarterback to seek out any semblance of rhythm.
Maiava dug the Trojans a gap to climb out of first. With stress from Nebraska (5-5, 2-5) closing in on the quarterback on an early third-and-long state of affairs, Maiava floated a panicked cross over receiver Kyle Ford and straight to Nebraska cornerback — and former Trojan — Ceyair Wright, who returned the interception for a 49-yard landing.
It was as disquieting of a begin as USC might have imagined for its new quarterback. After two drives, Maiava was a meager two for seven with a crushing pick-six — regarding sufficient to hush a Coliseum crowd that hoped he may be the reply to what ailed USC’s offense.
USC cornerback Grasping Vance Jr., proper, celebrates after intercepting a cross within the last seconds to seal the Trojans’ 28-20 win over Nebraska on the Coliseum on Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
However any existential panic ignited by that gradual begin in the end was short-lived. Dismissing the interception, Maiava threaded the needle on a important third-down cross to Ford for 18 yards.
Then, on a mad-dash scramble to his proper, Maiava threw up a downfield prayer to Duce Robinson, who got here again to the ball for a miraculous reception.
Maiava completed the drive only one play later with a six-yard display to Department, who punched in his first landing in additional than a 12 months.
Maiava seemed even sharper the following time the Trojans touched the ball, as he accomplished 5 passes in a row, the final of which Kyron Hudson pulled down for a 12-yard rating.
What started with a two-for-seven whimper had become a scorching nine-for-nine stretch for Maiava. However simply as quickly as he appeared to have the offense shifting, the Trojans as soon as once more floor to a halt.
The following three USC drives yielded simply 39 complete yards, with each groups buying and selling largely empty possessions. Nebraska did not make USC pay with an 11-play drive. It could take Robinson operating huge open down the seam to interrupt by the stalemate, as Maiava floated a contact cross to the wideout, who ran 49 yards untouched into the top zone.
That rating would hold the Trojans forward, even amid an up-and-down second half that noticed a area aim blocked and a fumble misplaced by Maiava.
It could take one final defensive cease for the Trojans to lastly put Nebraska away, as Grasping Vance Jr. intercepted a cross from Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola as time expired.
