QBs Jayden Maiava, Husan Longstreet lead potent USC to 73-13 win over Missouri State
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jayden Maiava passed for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and Southern California had its highest-scoring game since 1930 in a 73-13 victory over Missouri State on Saturday night.
Husan Longstreet completed all nine of his passes for 69 yards and rushed for 54 yards and two TDs in the touted freshman quarterback’s second-half debut for USC, which got off to an impressive offensive start to Lincoln Riley’s fourth season with 597 total yards.
Nine players scored 10 touchdowns for USC, which hadn’t racked up this many points since a 74-0 victory over California 95 years ago.
“That shows some of the versatility of this team,” Riley said. “We were able to get a lot of different guys involved. We (also) scored off defense. It was exciting to see. I anticipated that we would play something like this. It’s kind of what I’ve seen on the practice field. … I expected we would come out and play well on all sides and be complementary, and we did that.”
Lake McRee caught a 64-yard touchdown pass and Eli Sanders turned a screen pass into a 73-yard TD during USC’s 42-point first half.
Waymond Jordan, Bryan Jackson and King Miller rushed for touchdowns for the Trojans, who scored on 10 of their first 11 drives and didn’t punt.
“We’ve got a lot of super-talented guys in the (running back) room and on the whole offense,” said Sanders, a 1,000-yard rusher at New Mexico last season. “So I was super-excited to see everybody do what they can do.”
Jacob Clark passed for 147 yards and hit Tristian Gardner for a 33-yard TD for Missouri State, which is joining the FBS this season in Conference USA.
Missouri State actually led 3-0 after the game’s opening drive, but USC and Maiava scored on all five drives in the first half, racking up 382 yards.
“There’s a lot to clean up, a lot of football left to be played,” Bears coach Ryan Beard said. “We’re excited about it. This is a historic moment for our football program. Obviously wish the score could have been a little different, but this is the league you’re stepping into. When you go to FBS, this is what the top, best FBS looks like, so I think this was a good view for everybody.”
Jordan, who led Hutchinson Community College to the juco national championship last year, broke a 26-yard run on his first touch and scored on the next snap of USC’s opening drive.
After Jackson scored on USC’s second drive, McRee caught a short pass and took it to the house.
Bishop Fitzgerald, an NC State transfer safety making his USC debut, then returned an interception 39 yards for a TD and a 28-3 lead early in the second quarter.
“It was just a fun night out there,” Fitzgerald said. “I think just going out there and setting the tone early was fun to do.”
Miller broke an impressive 75-yard run for his first collegiate TD in the third quarter.
Big numbers
The game was the Trojans’ highest-scoring season opener since a 76-0 win over UCLA in 1929. USC hadn’t scored 70 points in a game since its 2005 home opener against Arkansas.
Longstreet arrives
Longstreet, who grew up in nearby Inglewood, was one of the nation’s top prep passers last season. Longstreet admires and studies USC Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, and he chose to be the next passer to work with Riley, who has coached three Heisman winners and second-place finisher Jalen Hurts.
Longstreet rushed for a 5-yard TD to cap his debut drive right after halftime, but fumbled in the pocket on his second drive. He recovered and engineered four more scoring drives, making an impressive 17-yard TD run in the fourth quarter before throwing his first TD pass to Carson Tabaracci.
“Husan was pretty steady,” Riley said. “Obviously want the fumble back, but he ran with the ball well, and you see some of his athleticism, so a good start for him.”
Takeaways
The Trojans’ offense performed superbly in this warmup nonconference game, and the defense got the work it needs. Maiava looked sharp in a limited test, and Riley showed his ample array of skill-position talent.
Up next
Missouri State visits Marshall on Sept. 6.
USC hosts Georgia Southern on Sept. 6.
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By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
