Southern Cal Withstands Rain and Penalties to Claim Win

Southern Cal Withstands Rain and Penalties to Claim Win

by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/Football Writers Association of America

photos by: Greg Flint, Excel H Sports/Our Man Flint Photography

After withstanding a three hour plus weather delay, which cleaned out Ross-Ade Stadium, the Trojans of Southern California and the Boilermakers of Purdue University entered the field to engage in battle.

Trojan quarterback, 6’4 230-pound Jayden Maiava, a UNLV transfer, yes that’s where current Boilermaker Head Coach Barry Odom came from; started the Trojan offense by driving the field with a combination of passing and running before the Boilermaker defense made their stand deep in the red zone.

USC capitalized on a field goal by Ryan Sayeri from 24 yards to put the Trojans up three to zip in the first quarter. Sayeri who would go on to connect on four of five attempts, which one was good from 48 yards.

The Trojans would score fourteen more points in the second quarter, when Maiava would put USC up 10 to nothing with a three-yard rush.

Purdue struck the scoreboard when Spencer Horvath connected from 39 yards out to get the pep back in Purdue’s step.

With 3:18 left in the first half Waymond Jordan struck a dagger as he scored from six yards out to put USC up 17 to 3 at the break.

Sayeri would put his stamp back on the game early in the third quarter as he hit from 37 yards out to push the Trojan lead to 20 to 3.

Purdue would show resilience and show competitiveness as they scored on probably the most entertaining segment of the game, as Michael Jackson III would rush for 26 yards then lateral the ball to quarterback Ryan Browne for no yard gain.

Browne then fumbles the ball, as one of the better linebackers in the country, Eric Gentry forced the ball out of Browne’s grip.

The fumble was then recovered by Browne at the USC and score from those 34 yards aforementioned.

After review the play was upheld and after a Spencer Horvath extra point the Boilers had closed the Trojan lead to a manageable 20 to 10 deficit, at the 8:47 mark left in the third quarter.

The Trojans would answer that a little more than three minutes later when, yes Sayeri hit again from 48 yards to push the lead to thirteen.

Then the play that opened the game up for USC as Purdue quarter back Browne would be intercepted by red-shirt Sophomore, 6’5, 360-pound defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett who would take the pigskin to the house with a 30-yard pick.

Purdue opened the final stanza down thirty to ten.

Purdue would not go away, quietly in the night as they regrouped and scored when Browne hit NiTareon (Nitro) Tuggle with a nine-yard pass to close the gap to 30 to 17.

Southern Cal would salt the remaining time and with another Sayeri field goal to furnish the final 33 to 17 score.

USC would move to 3-0 with a home game against Michigan State while Purdue will travel to Notre Dame.

For the Trojans, Maiava finished 17 of 28 for 282 yards with Ja’Kobi Lane catching three grabs for 115 yards along with impressive tight end Lake McRee, three receptions for 67 yards and Makai Lemon, five for 63 yards.

Waymond Jordan would rush for 77 yards and slick Eli Sanders rushing for another 75 yards.

Eric Gentry would top the defense with eight total tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss while Bishop Fitgerald, Christian Pierce, Marcelles Williams and Desman Stephens II would all account for five total tackles.

The Boilers, who have been competitive once again, under Barry Odom was led by Ryan Browne’s 24 of 39, 305 yards.

Devin Mockabee would lead the rushing game with 12 carries for 45 yards with E J Horton, Jr. caught five passes for 70 yards and Michael Jackson III with seven catches for 70 yards and George Burhann with four grabs and 35 yards.

Myles Slusher would lead the Boiler D with 12 total tackles with nine sacks while Charles Correa would total eleven tackles, nine sacks and a sack.

Mani Powell would total five solo tackles.