USC holds off Rutgers: Trojans get first Big Ten win of the year in hard-fought road battle

Rutgers has real issues, but the play of quarterback Dylan Lonergan was encouraging after a few disappointing offensive performances. While receiver KJ Duff is a known commodity, several other pass-catchers benefitted from Lonergan's distribution ability. 

Four receivers overall caught multiple passes and sophomore Vernon Allen caught his first career touchdown. The resilience shown by the passing game -- especially after Lonergan's bad interceptions -- gives hope that the program is finding its way back on track. There aren't many winning opportunities on the schedule, but 1-11 seems less likely. 

USC's schedule has changed dramatically since joining the new-look Big Ten Conference, now featuring multiple trips across the country. Heading into the Rutgers matchup, the Trojans were just 1-10 since 2012 during cross-country road trips. 

The Trojans managed to make it 2-10 after outlasting Rutgers, but the performance was decidedly lackluster. The Scarlet Knights played a similar seven-point game on the road against Boston College in their last matchup, and the Golden Eagles are far short of a College Football Playoff contender. 

Unfortunately, there are still two tough road trips remaining for USC out east: at No. 14 Penn State and at No. 4 Indiana. The Trojans will have to figure out a better way to prepare, because this effort will not survive against good teams. 

USC's defense under Gary Patterson got some early season compliments, but that progress dissipated against a second-rate Rutgers team. The Scarlet Knights accumulated 461 yards of offense and outgained the Trojans through the air with 292 yards. Rutgers posted a 250-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and 86-yard receiver.

The Trojans were decimated by Rutgers' slant game. Wide receiver KJ Duff is a next-level player, so there's little shame there, but plenty of other receivers got in on the action. Next week, USC plays against Oregon's stacked wide receiver room. 

FINAL: USC 42, Rutgers 35

No. 12 USC survived an upset bid from Rutgers and pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 42-35 victory. The Trojans got two touchdowns from freshman running back Riley Wormley, including a game-clinching two-yard reception to cap off the win. 

Rutgers would not go quietly into the night. The Scarlet Knights got a 28-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Lonergan to Vernon Allen III with 4:24 remaining to make it a one-score game. However, USC leaned on quarterback Jayden Maiava and running back King Miller to run out the clock, including a physical third down conversion to set up victory formation. 

The Scarlet Knights pulled out all the stops to keep the game competitive. Deep in their own territory, Greg Schiano dialed up a fake punt that Jakob Anderson launched for a 40-yard pass to Jesse Ofurie to set up a touchdown drive. After throwing an interception on his first attempt, Lonergan settled in and dealt for 252 yards and three touchdowns. However, a 99-yard pick-six by Prophet Brown flipped the game and gave the Trojans a lead they would not surrender. 

Maiava was efficient in victory, completing 20-of-32 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. The Trojans rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns on 6.3 yards per carry. Miller posted 102 yards on the ground. 

4Q: USC 42, Rutgers 35

Rutgers' passing game continues to find momentum against the USC secondary. This time, the Scarlet Knights went down the field in 12 plays, finishing off with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Lonergan to Vernon Allen III. There's only 4:22 remaining, but Rutgers is still alive. 

4Q: USC 42, Rutgers 28

Rutgers made a gusty call by going for it on fourth down from their side of the field, and getting stuffed in the backfield. It was an ugly drive, aided by a Rutgers illegal substitution, but the Trojans set up a two-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Maiava to Riley Wormley. Rutgers is running out of time. 

End 3Q: USC 35, Rutgers 28

Both USC and Rutgers' offenses picked up in a back-and-forth third quarter, leaving us with a one-score game entering the final period. Rutgers made some critical miscues in the final minutes of the quarter, committing an illegal substitution penalty mixed with an offsides on fourth down to open up a 32-yard bomb from Jayden Maiava to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. 

Rutgers received three possessions in the quarter and all three led to lengthy drives. The Scarlet Knights went 66 yards on 10 plays into goal-to-go territory, but quarterback Dylan Lonergan was picked off by Prophet Brown and returned 99 yards for a touchdown. They bounced right back, though, putting together a pair of touchdown drives to cut the lead to one. 

USC marched down the field on their only true drive, and are working towards the red zone once again entering the fourth quarter. After an inconsistent start, Maiva is up to 242 yards and a touchdown. Lonergan is close behind with 200 yards passing and two touchdowns, but both interceptions directly led to USC touchdowns. 

Late 3Q: USC 35, Rutgers 28

Rutgers just keeps attacking on offense, driving 75 yards in eight plays to score yet another two-yard rushing touchdown from Antwan Raymond. Dylan Lonergan is up to 200 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while Raymond cleared 100 yards. USC has held Rutgers off -- can that continue? 

3Q: USC 35, Rutgers 21

USC's offense has come alive in the second half, finally finding its first momentum as Rutgers encroaches. Riley Wormley took the first carry 27 yards and Jayden Maiava hit a couple passes to set up a 12-yard touchdown run from Wormley. The drive took more than three minutes in seven plays and again pushes the lead out to two scores. The Trojans haven't pulled away, but they've kept the game at arm's reach. 

3Q: USC 27, Rutgers 20

Rutgers took just about the biggest punch they could with the 99-yard pick-six, but these Scarlet Knights aren't going away. This time it was the running backs taking center stage, taking three rushing attempts 75 yards for a touchdown to make it a one-score game once again. 

Antwan Raymond was questionable heading into the matchup, but he broke off a 49-yard run to flip the defense. One play later, Clay Thevenin broke through for 17 yards and the Scarlet Knights are back on the board. 

3Q: USC 27, Rutgers 14

Rutgers put together a strong drive to open the second half, within striking distance of taking the lead against No. 12 USC. It all changed in one play. 

Scarlet Knights quarterback Dylan Lonergan dropped back to pass on 1st-and-goal and was picked off by Prophet Brown, who returned the turnover 99 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, a competitive game turned on its head. 

HALF: USC 20, Rutgers 14

Rutgers stormed back to cut the lead to 20-14 at halftime after a nifty fake punt call from Greg Schiano flipped the game on its head. Despite sitting in the shadow of their own end zone, Scarlet Knights punter Jakob Anderson launched a pass downfield to Jesse Ofurie to set up a 16-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Lonergan to Elias Coke. 

USC drove down the field to set up a field goal to push the lead out to six points, but the Trojans have been inconsistent offensively against the 0-2 Scarlet Knights. One of USC's two touchdown drives came off an interception, and two stalled, leading to red zone field goals. The other was on a broken play, a whiffed jump ball by a Rutgers defender that Corey Simms took for a 52-yard touchdown. 

Maiava has struggled to find a top target outside of Kayden Dixon-Wyatt with Trent Mosley out of the lineup. Five different pass catchers have a single catch, and Maiava missed on three consecutive pass attempts to end the first half. 

Lonergan threw that interception on his first pass attempt, but has acquitted himself nicely since. The Alabama transfer threw a pair of touchdowns in the first half to get the Scarlet Knights on the board and keep it a game coming into halftime. Six receivers have at least 10 yards for Rutgers. 

Late 2Q: USC 17, Rutgers 14

Dylan Lonergan came alive after the magical fake punt, connecting on passes of 15 and 13 yards before hitting Elias Coke for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Suddenly, we have a game in Piscataway. 

Rutgers desperately needed a boost after facing third-and-20 inside their own 20-yard line, and Greg Schiano dialed up exactly the right call. The Scarlet Knights called a fake punt that was executed to perfection, punter Jakob Anderson finding Jessie Ofurie for a 40-yard completion to flip the field and give the Scarlet Knights a realistic shot to cut the lead to one score heading into halftime. 

2Q: USC 17, Rutgers 7

Rutgers again won early downs against USC, landing them in 3rd-and-14 after a sack on Jayden Maiava. Instead of getting off the field, a Scarlet Knights defensive back mistimed a jump ball, which led to a 52-yard touchdown from sophomore USC receiver Corey Simms, the first of his career. The Scarlet Knights can't stop shooting themselves in the foot. 

End 1Q: USC 10, Rutgers 7

Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan shook off his slow start and drew a facemask to get the Scarlet Knight offense moving to end the first quarter. Lonergan helped lead a 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by an unbelievable catch by wide receiver KJ Duff to cut the lead to 10-7. 

Lonergan threw an interception on his first attempt to Christian Pierce that helped set up the first USC touchdown of the game. The Trojans drove down the field on the first drive aided by penalty flags and a monster effort from running back King Miller, who has 49 yards in the first quarter. 

Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava has been shaky, completing only 4 of 8 passes to start without top receiver Trent Mosley in the lineup. No receiver has more than one reception to start. 

1Q: USC 10, Rutgers 0

Rutgers returned quarterback Dylan Lonergan after he missed the Boston College game. On his first pass attempt, Longergan -- a former Alabama quarterback -- threw an interception while searching for KJ Duff. Two plays later, King Miller burst into the end zone and it's already a two-score game. 

1Q: USC 3, Rutgers 0

Technically, USC put together a 12-play, 58-yard drive that finished with a 35-yard field goal. However, that cleans up what was a truly ugly opening stretch. Rutgers had USC held to third-and-8 (allowed a 20-yard run) and third-and-23 (committed pass interference). The usually sure Jayden Maiava completed only 3-of-7 passes on the drive, struggling to get on the same page with his wide receivers. 

The Trojans still managed to drill it into the end zone, but the cross-country road trip seems to have come with at least a few consequences. Is Rutgers good enough to take advantage? 

After a miscommunication between quarterback and receiver, USC faced third-and-eight with a chance for Rutgers to get a key stop. Instead, King Miller burst through the line for 20 yards to move the chains. Those are the kind of chances that the Scarlet Knights can't waste. 

USC boasts one of the most potent offenses in America and faces a prove-it opportunity on the road against a Big Ten opponent. Rutgers won't have many answers for the Trojans, and it's a chance for the USC defense to make another statement after shutting out Fresno State two weeks ago. Pick: USC -23.5

While Rutgers has been lackluster through two games, star wide receiver KJ Duff has been everything and more. In only two games, Duff ranks No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the Power Four with 333 yards and five touchdowns on 17 catches. He cleared 196 yards in his season opening performance against UMass despite being blanketed by defenders. 

The Trojans are young across most of the roster, but redshirt seniors Jontez Williams and Prophet Brown have seen it all in their careers. Defensive coordinator Gary Patterson will have a strong game plan built around stopping the star receiver. 

USC will be without star wide receiver Trent Mosley after he suffered a reported knee injury three games into his career. Mosley caught 13 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns to lead a freshman movement in Los Angeles. 

With Mosley sidelined, attention shifts to fellow freshmen wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and tight end Mark Bowman. Five pass-catchers overall have more than 100 yards receiving in the early going.  

Lonergan missed last week's loss against Boston College with an undisclosed injury suffered in the opener against UMass, but the Scarlet Knights did not include Lonergan on the final injury report prior to Saturday's game against USC and he will reportedly start. AJ Surace replaced Lonergan and threw for 307 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. Lonergan, who transferred in from Boston College this offseason, threw for 242 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the loss to UMass.