The nation’s most electrical returner appeared as much as the sky as a second-quarter Wisconsin punt got here hurtling in his course. Zachariah Department had fielded so many kicks identical to it. However as this one drew nearer and a choice drew close to, for only a split-second the USC sophomore hesitated.
It was simply lengthy sufficient for catastrophe to strike. The ball, which careened off Department’s outstretched arms, was corralled by Wisconsin. And with it, any hope of a easy, bounce-back spot for USC in its Massive Ten house opener bounced away.
What USC acquired as a substitute was a complicated afternoon the Trojans and their coach would most likely desire to maneuver previous shortly, one stuffed with an equal mixture of irritating missteps, sloppy execution and second-half resolve. USC nonetheless managed to stroll away with a 38-21 victory over Wisconsin, but it surely actually didn’t appear that satisfying alongside the best way.
Bouncing again after final week’s back-breaking loss to Michigan would require one other masterful run of halftime changes from USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, whose protection allowed Wisconsin simply 82 whole yards within the second half. It additionally meant a steely comeback effort from quarterback Miller Moss, who circled a sloppy begin to lead three consecutive landing drives within the third and fourth quarters, even operating the final one in himself.
Moss completed with 308 yards and three passing touchdowns and one other on the bottom. Although, he’d pay for that closing rating, hitting the bottom exhausting as he crossed the aircraft into the tip zone. The hit would land him briefly within the medical tent. However by that time, Moss had already led the Trojans again right into a extra comfy late lead.
Whereas Moss was being attended to, linebacker Mason Cobb would see to it that the sport was put away. He took a tipped cross 55 yards to paydirt, placing the sport lastly out of attain within the fourth quarter.
Trojans quarterback Miller Moss will get a cross off earlier than Badgers defensive lineman Curt Neal can get the sack Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Till Lynn’s protection clamped down and Moss excelled within the second half, turning a 21-10 halftime deficit into 4 unanswered touchdowns, little about Saturday’s recreation might be described as comfy for USC.
Department’s botched punt left USC on uneven floor to start out Saturday, and the errors flowed from there. Moss threw a foul decide and gave away a fumble within the first half. The offensive line struggled to guard. Wideouts dropped crucial passes. Even the protection, which finally ironed itself out, appeared to slip again into dangerous habits, giving up 4 explosive cross performs as if to honor its former defensive coordinator, Alex Grinch, who was again teaching on the alternative sideline.
It was hardly how USC hoped to open Massive Ten play on the Coliseum. However it was additionally a reminder of how shortly the Trojans might fall into the sample of inconsistent play that plagued them a 12 months in the past.
USC acquired off to a promising begin, with Moss dealing in a a lot cleaner pocket than he’d seen final week in Michigan. With time to throw, he fired a superbly positioned landing cross between two defenders on the Trojans’ opening drive, hitting Ja’Kobi Lane within the nook of the tip zone for a 32-yard rating.
It appeared like solely a matter of time earlier than USC settled right into a easy Saturday. But the poise from these first few performs didn’t final lengthy.
Wisconsin’s Vinny Anthony blew previous USC cornerback Jacobe Covington on the very subsequent possession to reel in a 63-yard landing cross.
USC receiver Duce Robinson makes a 32-yard reception in opposition to Wisconsin security Austin Brown to arrange the go-ahead landing.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Two drives later, Moss let unfastened one other deep ball, just for it to sail too far within wideout Zachariah Department. The cross was picked off, ending a 10-play drive.
The errors began piling up from there, as two of USC’s subsequent three possessions led to equally disastrous trend. First, the botched punt return from Department. Then, Moss was hit from behind late within the second quarter and the ball popped out to cease a promising drive in its tracks.
With USC trailing by two scores as the ultimate seconds of the primary half ticked away, boos rang out across the Coliseum.
However just a few hours later, the group roared as Cobb rolled into the tip zone, finishing a comeback victory that ought to have by no means gotten to that time.
