(Los Angeles, CA) — A healthy QB, a new Offensive Coordinator, same old Huskers. Nebraska’s losing streak stretches to 4 games in a 28-20 loss to USC.
Neither team scored on their first drive, the Trojans committed the first turnover on their second possession — Ceyair Wright picked off a deep Justin Maiava pass and returned it 45 yards for a TD. Maiava would get right back on his trojan horse, converted a 3rd and 7 with an 18 yard pass to Kyle Ford and got USC in the end zone with a 6 yard TD pass to Zachariah Branch to tie the game at 7-7.
Nebraska was held on their next possession so Maiava went to the air again, got five pass completions and USC got big chunk yardage on a nice drive ending in a Maiava 12 yard TD pass to Kyron Hudson to take a 14-7 lead. The Huskers would answer in the 2nd quarter — Raiola seemed to find his rhythm with completions of 5, 8, and 16 yards and would mix in Dante Dowdell on the ground. After two straight incompletions on 3rd and 10, Raiola Janiran Bonner on an 11 yard pass to the Trojan 29 and then Raiola found Emmett Johnson on a 29 yard TD pass to tie the game at 14-14 — that was the score at the half.
The Huskers had the ball to start the 3rd quarter and started to move down the field — it was Emmett Johnson on the ground and Raiola short passes that kept the chains moving. On 3rd and 9, Raiola missed Jahmal Banks and Nebraska had to settle for a John Hohl 29 yard field goal and the Huskers had their first and only lead 17-14.
USC struck back quickly — Maiava hit Hudson on a 21 yard pass and one play later found Duce Robinson on a 48 yard TD to retake a 21-17 lead with 7:15 left in the third quarter. After a Nebraska punt, Maiava committed his 2nd mistake of the game — Ty Robinson put pressure on the Trojan QB and forced a fumble recovered by Makai Gbayor at the USC16. However, Nebraska could not move the ball — on 3rd down a pass in the flat to Johnson went for -3 on a Mason Cobb tackle. The Huskers had to settle for a Hohl 30 yard field goal and Nebraska was down one 21-20.
It was Woody Marks time for USC as he started to get more carries and he would gash the Nebraska defense — USC moved into field goal range but Michael Lantz’s 27 yarder was blocked by Ceyair Wright to keep the Huskers within one. Nebraska got a quick first down run from Heinrich Haarberg but three short gains and it was 4th and 3 from their own 40. Nebraska had to burn a timeout then tried to draw USC offsides — the Trojans didn’t bite. Nebraska took a delay of game and punted to the Trojans.
Marks went back to work on the ground — on 3rd and 9 from the USC45, Maiava was hit as the threw, the ball fluttered forward and Makai Lemon made an incredible catch off a deflection from a Nebraska defender’s helmet. He was ruled short of the first down but on 4th and inches, Marks found the left edge and raced 34 yards for the first down. Maiava would eventually get into the end zone for a 2 yard TD run to give USC a 28-20 lead.
Raiola moved the Huskers to the USC38 where he found Jaylen Lloyd for a 24 yard gain to the Trojan14 but there was 5 seconds left. On the last play, Raiola threw for the end zone but the Trojans picked it off to end the game.
In his first start at quarterback, Maiava was 25-35 for 259 yards 3 TD 1 INT and 1 fumble. Woody Marks had 19 carries for 146 yards. Duce Robinson had 4 catches for 90 yards and 1 TD. Trojans are now 5-5 and will play at UCLA next week then finish with traditional rival Notre Dame at home.
Dylan Raiola was 27-38 for 191 yards 1 TD and 2 INT. Emmett Johnson had 10 carries for 55 yards, Dante Dowdell had 9 carries for 52 yards. Jahmal Banks had 5 catches for 55 yards. Huskers fall to 5-5, they host Wisconsin next week then visit Iowa.