Trojan horse: USU falls to USC on the road
Los Angeles – Maybe it was the pressure of the national audience, a packed house and a team determined to overcome embarrassment. Maybe it was a lack of focus, a culmination of distractions or even just the glitz and glamor of Los Angeles.
But whatever the case may be, the Utah State Aggies have once again come up short on the road against a Power Five conference team following a 45-7 loss at the hands of the USC Trojans.
“Give USC credit,” said Wyatt Houston, Utah State’s senior tight end. “They simply came out to play and we didn’t.”
The Aggies were able to contain the Trojan offense on the opening drive of the game, limiting USC to just 10 yards on four plays. However, after being forced into a three-and-out, Aaron Dalton’s punt was blocked and eventually recovered by USC’s Quinton Powell on USU’s six-yard line.
“Obviously all three phases of our team didn’t play well today,” said Aggies’ linebacker Derek Larsen. “That blocked punt and the punt return that they had, it was just like blow after blow for us.”
With momentum behind them, the Trojans struck first on the arm of quarterback Max Browne and never looked back. JuJu Smith-Schuster was Browne’s target on a three-yard strike to begin the day for USC. Two drives later, after marching 87 yards, Deontay Burnett scored on a 15-yard catch and run. Then it was Steven Mitchell on 2-yard catch in the back of the end zone after a 48-yard drive. Going into the half, the Aggies were already down 21-0.
USU vs USC postgame recap with Taylor and Paige. Aggies lost 45-7 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena.
Posted by Utah Statesman on Saturday, September 10, 2016
Out of the break, the Trojans scored on a 20-yard chip shot field goal from Matt Boermeester, followed by an Adoree’ Jackson 77-yard punt return, then another touchdown catch from Smith-Schuster and the day ended with an Aca’Cedric Ware leaping score from 2-yards out.
“When you’re moving the ball and you’re stopping them on defense and then you have a blocked punt for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown,” said head coach Matt Wells. “You’re not going to win those games. That’s pretty widely known.”
Ultimately, the Trojans did to the Aggies what Utah State was able to do against Weber State – run the ball, and run it well. USC’s running backs totaled 178 yards on the ground, with Justin Davis leading the way, totaling 70 yards and a 4.4 average.
That success allowed for Browne – and even freshman Sam Darnold – to find success through the air. Exploiting the cushion that the Aggie defenders allowed on the Trojan receivers, the duo notched 244 yards and four touchdowns. Smith-Schuster accounted for 56 yards along with his two touchdowns, while Darreus Rogers had 7 catches for 82 yards. In total, the Trojans tallied 422 yards of offense on the day.
Utah State’s quarterback Kent Myers went 25 of 37 for 204 yards and notched a lone touchdown to Wyatt Houston at the end of the third quarter. For the second time this year, no Aggie receiver had more than 50 yards.
After helping carry the team to a 428 yard rushing day last week, the offensive line for Utah State only allowed for the running backs to find 49 yards on 26 attempts against the Trojans. It didn’t help that Devante Mays went down early in the third quarter with a knee injury. USC also sacked Myers twice and had seven tackles for a loss.
Utah State will take on Arkansas State next week at home on Saturday at 6 p.m.