USC and Miller Moss score redemption during blowout win over Rutgers
The eyes of Los Angeles were elsewhere, the city’s focus trained five miles up the 110 Freeway. The rest of the country, meanwhile, presumably had drifted off to sleep, unenthused by late-night football between two bottom-half Big Ten teams.
But after three weeks spent unraveling for all the world to see, USC returned to a sparsely-filled Coliseum Friday night with its confidence shaken and egos bruised amid a three-game slump, only to do some of its best work of the season during a 42-20 win over Rutgers.
Whether anyone actually was watching as USC stopped the bleeding from its brutal month spent crisscrossing the country was of little concern. Because for the first time since USC beat Wisconsin here a month ago, the Trojans looked the part of a team capable of competing in the Big Ten.
USC closes out a win over Rutgers
USC 42, Rutgers 20, end of fourth quarter
Backup quarterback Jayden Maiaiva took over running the offense. On his first snap, he ran for 13 yards.
Quinten Joyner ran for three yards. The two-minute warning was then triggered. Joyner evaded a tackle and ran for six yards. On third-and-one, Bryan Jackson ran for one yard and the first down.
A’Marion Peterson ran for four yards and USC ran out the clock.
USC defense gets another fourth-down stop
USC 42, Rutgers 20, 2:57 left in the fourth quarter
Rutgers started on its 25 after the USC punt.
Athan Kaliakmanis passed to Mike Higgins for five yards. Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass before passing to Antwan Raymond for nine yards.
Kaliakmanis then tossed another incomplete pass. On the next play, he was sacked for a five-yard loss. On third-and-15, Kaliakmanis passed to Raymond for a 19-yard gain.
Dymere Miller ran for no gain. Kaliakmanis passed to Mike Higgins for five yards, moving the ball to the USC 42. On third-and-five, Kaliakmanis passed to KJ duff for 19 yards.
Kaliakmanis’ next pass to the end zone was incomplete. On second down at the USC 23, Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass. On third-and-10, Kaliakmanis was sacked for a nine-yard loss. On fourth-and-19 at the USC 32, Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass and USC took over on its 32 yard line.
USC offense stalls
USC 42, Rutgers 20, 7:41 left in the fourth quarter
USC took over on its 13 after stuffing Rutgers on fourth down.
Woody Marks ran for 19 yards. Miller Moss tossed an incomplete pass. Marks ran for no gain. And Moss passed to Kyle Ford, who was tackled for a three-yard loss.
USC then punted to the Rutgers 25.
Long Rutgers drives ends with turnover
USC 42, Rutgers 20, 9:44 left in the fourth quarter
Rutgers started on its 25 after the USC kickoff.
Antwan ran for two yards as time expired in the third quarter. Athan Kaliakmanis passed to Christian Dremel for 14 yards.
Antwan Raymond ran for seven yards, two yards and two yards on three consecutive carries. On third-and-one, Raymond delivered a two-yard run.
Raymond ran for one yard. Kaliakmanis passed to Dymere Miller for four yards and then another three yards. On fourth-and-two, Raymond ran for four yards, moving the ball to the USC 36.
Kaliakmanis tossed a deep incomplete pass before passing to Mike Higgins for 14 yards. Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass and USC called timeout. Kaliakmanis then passed to Miller for eight yards to the USC 14. Raymond ran for one yard. On fourth-and-one at the USC 13, Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass and turned the ball over.
Miller Moss tosses 40-yard touchdown pass to Makai Lemon
USC 42, Rutgers 20, 22 seconds left in the third quarter
USC started on its 46 after a short punt.
Woody Marks ran for two yards. Miller Moss then passed to Marks for a 12-yard gain. Moss closed the drive by passing to Makai Lemon for a 40-yard touchdown. Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
Rutgers continues string of punts
USC 35, Rutgers 20, 1:41 left in the third quarter
Rutgers started on its 15 after its punt.
Antwan Raymond ran for a one-yard loss. Athan Kaliakmanis passed by Kyle Monangai for four yards. Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass. And Rutgers punted.
USC goes three-and-out
USC 35, Rutgers 20, 3:14 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 35.
The Trojans were called for false start. On first-and-15, Miller Moss passed to Zachariah Branch for four yards. Moss then tossed two incomplete pases and USC punted to the Rutgers 15.
USC forces a quick Rutgers punt
USC 35, Rutgers 20, 4:07 left in the third quarter
Rutgers started on its 25.
Antwan Raymond ran for two yards and no gain. Athan Kaliakmanis then passed to Kyle Monangai for five yards.
Rutgers punted to the USC 35.
USC quickly matches Rutgers’ score, extends its lead
USC 35, Rutgers 20, 6:32 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Miller Moss passed to Makai Lemon for a 70-yard gain, going out of bounds at the Rutgers 5.
Woody Marks ran for two yards. Moss’ next two passes were incomplete, but Rutgers was called for pass interference on the second one.
On first-and-goal at the Rutgers 2, USC was called for false start. While Rutgers focused on Marks, Moss ran for a seven-yard touchdown. Michael Lantz hit the extra point to give USC breathing room after Rutgers’ quick strike on the previous possession.
Rutgers carves up USC’s defense, slices the Trojans’ lead
USC 28, Rutgers 20, 8:11 left in the third quarter
Rutgers started on its 14 after a punt.
Athan Kaliakmanis was sacked for a loss of on yard. He then passed to KJ Duff for 10 yards. On third-and-one, Antwan Raymond ran for two yards. He tacked on another five-yard run.
Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass before connecting with Dymere Miller for a 45-yard gain. Kaliakmanis then passed to Christian Dremel for a 25-yard touchdown. Chris Long then completed a pass for a two-point conversion.
USC punted on its first possession of the third quarter
USC 28, Rutgers 12, 11:25 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 30 after a punt.
Miller Moss passed to Makai Lemon for 13 yards.
Moss then tossed an incomplete pass, Woody Marks rushed for four yards and Moss had another pass broken up.
USC punted to the Rutgers 14.
Rutgers goes three-and-out to open third quarter
USC 28, Rutgers 12, 13:18 left in the third quarter
Rutgers started on its 29 after a kickoff return.
Kyle Monangai ran for four yards and one yard before Athan Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass and Rutgers punted.
Long, strange Rutgers drive ends with a field goal
USC 28, Rutgers 12, end of second quarter
Rutgers started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Athan Kaliakmanis passed to Kyle Monangai for five yards.
USC called timeout with 1:45 left in the second quarter.
Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass. USC tried to return the ball on the after it was released awkwardly, but the play was reviewed and it was deemed an incomplete pass. On third-and-five, Kaliakmanis ran for five yards and the first down.
Kaliakmanis passed to Dymere Miller for six yards and another six yards on back-to-back plays. Kaliakmanis ten passed to Chris Long for 13 yards.
Kaliakmanis’ next two passes were incomplete before he connected with Ben Black for seven yards. On fourth-and-three at the USC 33 with 50 seconds left, the Trojans called timeout.
Kaliakmanis passed to Miller for four yards and a first down at the USC 29.
Kaliakmanis’ next pass was broken up by Gavin Meyer and Rutgers was called for intentional grounding. It took awhile for officials to deliver the penalty after USC coach Lincoln Riley shouted for it. On second-and-18 at the USC 37, Kaliakmanis ran for 14 yards.
On third-and-four at the USC 23 with 24 seconds left, Rutgers called timeout.
Kaliakmanis rossed two incomplete passes, but USC was called for pass interference on the second toss.
On first-and-goal at the USC 2 with 15 seconds left, Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass. On second-and-goal at the USC 2 with 12 seconds left, Kaliakmanis tossed another incomplete pass.
USC called timeout with eight seconds left.
On third-and-goal at the USC 2, Kaliakmanis tossed yet another incomplete pass.
Jai Patel hit a 20-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
USC responds to Rutgers’ score with another touchdown drive
USC 28, Rutgers 9, 1:53 left in the second quarter
Makai Lemon returned the Rutgers kickoff 19 yards to the USC 19.
Miller Moss passed to Woody Marks for 19 yards. Marks then ran for seven yards. Moss passed to Marks again for five yards, moving the ball to the 50-yard line.
Moss passed to Zachariah Branch for 22 yards. Marks then ran for six yards.
The two-minute warning was triggered.
On second-and-four at the Rutgers 22, Marks ran for a 22-yard touchdown. Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
Rutgers scores touchdown but misses extra point
USC 21, Rutgers 9, 4:37 left in the second quarter
Rutgers started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Antwan Raymond ran for eight yards and then another two. Athan Kaliakmanis then rushed for four yards to the Rutgers 39. Kyle Monangai ran for three yards.
On third-and-three at the Rutgers 42, the Scarlet Knights called a timeout. Kaliakmanis passed to Dymere Miller for five yards and the first down.
Monangai ran for one yard, seven yards and five yards on three consecutive plays, moving the ball to the USC 40. Monangai was injured on the play.
On first down at the USC 40, Kaliakmanis passed to KJ Duff for 22 yards. Kaliakmanis then passed to Dymere Miller for 15 yards. Antwan Raymond ran for a three-yard touchdown. Rutgers missed the extra point.
Miller Moss makes most of defensive stop, leads quick touchdown drive
USC 21, Rutgers 3, 10:26 left in the second quarter
USC started on its 31 after the turnover on downs.
Miller Moss passed to Quinten Joyner for 10 yards. Joyner then rushed for five more yards. Moss took a shot deep intended for Duce Robinson, but it was incomplete. On third-and-five at the USC 46, Moss tossed an 18-yard pass to Kyle Ford.
On first down at the Rutgers 36, Moss passed to Lake McRee for a 14 yard gain. Moss completed an 11-yard pass to Makai Lemon.
And Moss hooked up with Kyle Ford for an 11-yard touchdown. Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
USC stuffs Rutgers on fourth down
USC 14, Rutgers 3, 13:36 left in the second quarter
Rutgers started on USC’s 36 to open the second quarter.
On first down, Kyle Monangai ran for two yards. Athan Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass. Monangai ran for four yards. On fourt-and-four at the USC 30, Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass and Rutgers turned the ball over.
Rutgers moving the ball with ease as first quarter ends
USC 14, Rutgers 3, end of first quarter
Rutgers started on its 25 after a fair catch on the USC kickoff.
Kyle Monangai ran for one yard and then three yards. Athan Kaliakmanist then passed to Dymere Miller for 17 yards. Kaliakmanis went back to Miller for an 18-yard pass that quickly moved the ball to the USC 36 as time expired in the first quarter.
Long Makai Lemon kickoff return sets up another USC touchdown
USC 14, Rutgers 3, 2:19 left in the first quarter
Makai Lemon delivered a rare kickoff return highlight play for USC, running Rutgers’ kick back for an 80-yard gain.
Miller Moss passed to Woody Marks for nine yards. Moss then passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for six yards.
Marks ran for four yards to Rutgers 1. The play was reviewed and Marks was deemed short of a score. On the next play, Marks ran for a one-yard touchdown. USC’s Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
USC limits Rutgers to field goal on Scarlet Knights’ first drive
USC 7, Rutgers 3, 4:10 left in the first quarter
Rutgers started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Kyle Monangai ran for four yards, four yards and six yards during three consecutive carries. Rutgers was then called for flase started and moved back five yards. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis ran for six yards.
On second-and-nine, Monangai ran for five yards. USC nose tackle Nate Clifton was injured on the play and treated on the field before walking off the field under his own power.
On third-and-four at the Rutgers 45, Monangai ran for three yards. USC’s Devan Thompkins made the tackle short of a first down. On fourth-and-one, Monangai ran for three yards and the first down.
Monangai ran for one yard and then another 27. USC was called for a face mask penalty, moving the ball to the Trojans’ 12.
On first down at the USC 12, Kaliakmanis tossed an incomplete pass. Kaliakmanis then ran for a two-yard loss. On third-and-12, Kaliakmanis passed Ben Black for a six-yard gain.
Jai Patel then hit a 26-yard field goal.
Miller Moss leads USC on efficient opening scoring drive
USC 7, Rutgers 0, 9:58 left in the first quarter
USC started on it 23. Miller Moss passed to Woody Marks for three yards. Marks then ran for four yards. Moss tossed a 12-yard pass to Ja’Kobi Lane for a first down.
Marks then ran 17 yards to the Rutgers 41. Moss passed to Jay Fair for 13 yards. And Moss connected with Kyle Ford, who gained 19 yards before fumbling. Fair recovered the ball for USC at the Rutgers 9.
Marks ran for three yards. Moss appeared to close the drive by passing to Zachariah Bran for a 6-yard touchdown.
A review determined Rutgers broke up the play and the Scarlet Knights were called for unsportsmanlike conduct, moving the ball to the Rutgers 3-yard line.
Marks ran for two yards to the Rutgers 1. Marks closed out the drive by running for a one-yard touchdown. USC’s Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
USC fans have been frustrated by Moss’ poor ball control and difficulty closing out tight games. He responded by leading the Trojans on a scoring after getting Lincoln Riley’s endorsement this past week.
USC wins toss and receives kickoff
USC 0, Rutgers 0, 14:54 left in the first quarter
USC won the toss and elected to receive.
Makai Lemon returned the opening kickoff to the Trojans’ 23.
USC faces Rutgers with depleted defensive lineup
Times USC beat reporter Ryan Kartje reports key members of the Trojans’ secondary are expected to miss the game against Rutgers.
Kamari Ramsey, Jaylin Smith and Jacobe Covington didn’t warm up with the Trojans, leaving USC without four of its five starts on the secondary.
Despite criticism, USC is sticking with Miller Moss as its starting quarterback
Questions swirled since Saturday, swept up in the bitter frustration of a third straight defeat and doused in the kerosene of social media. The decision Monday to close off media access only added more fuel to the fire, as fans wondered if major change might be afoot at USC.
But when Lincoln Riley finally was asked Monday night whether Miller Moss would remain the Trojans starting quarterback, the coach left no room for interpretation. He seemed, in fact, confused by the question.
“Of course,” Riley said, without hesitation. “One hundred percent.”
With USC’s season on the brink of disaster and Rutgers on tap Friday on a short week, not everyone outside the walls of Troy has expressed the same confidence in USC’s quarterback situation. Calls to anoint the backup, dual-threat transfer Jayden Maiava, have grown louder and louder among a vocal and frustrated fan base.
But even with the Trojans at 3-4, Riley made it quite clear he’s not entertaining that idea. Not yet, at least.
His defiance gone, Lincoln Riley struggles to explain USC’s latest devastating loss
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In another far-flung college town, at the end of a nightmarish month spent crisscrossing the country finding new ways to unravel, Lincoln Riley sat behind a plastic folding table with his arms crossed, searching for a new explanation to the same familiar questions.
His defiance had since dissolved, lost in the wake of a fourth loss in five weeks. His confidence, never wavering through an uneven six weeks, had given way to confusion after USC fell 29-28 to Maryland, its most inexplicable defeat to date.
This time, even Riley knew there was no sense in trying to explain away how close his Trojans had come. That same refrain would no longer suffice.
“It just simply hasn’t been enough,” Riley said, shaking his head. “I have to get this team to play better at the end of games. I’ve obviously not done a good enough job of that. Clearly.”
Beyond Varsity Blues: In pursuit of donations, USC admitted affluent kids as walk-on athletes
Energy and telecom mogul Sarath Ratanavadi, one of the richest men in Thailand, wanted his son to attend the University of Southern California a decade ago. The admissions officer who reviewed his file, however, termed him a “mediocre student at best” with grades at a Bangkok private school that USC equated to four Ds and two Fs.
But after Ratanavadi donated $3 million to the Trojan golf team, USC found a spot for his son. A special admissions committee for sports recruits admitted the teen as a walk-on golfer.
“I don’t think there is any way he will contribute to us winning or losing,” then-golf coach Chris Zambri emailed a colleague months after Ratanavadi’s son was admitted in 2015. But, he added, “his dad is now a huge supporter of USC Athletics …”
Getting into USC is a daunting feat, with about 9% of undergraduate applicants making the cut. For years, though, the university quietly offered wealthy and well-connected families such as the Ratanavadis an alternative path with much lower academic expectations and an acceptance rate of 85% to 90%, a Times investigation found.
Ratanavadi’s family spokesperson told the newspaper that his donation was “completely separate” from the admission of his son and that, “If any inappropriate conduct took place behind closed doors at USC, the family was unaware of it.”
Thousands of internal university records reviewed by The Times show how an array of administrators manipulated the admissions system meant for athletes to tip the scales in favor of the young relatives of real estate developers, financiers, CEOs, sports team owners, auto dealers and others who were prominent or had the potential to make large donations.
What to watch during USC vs. Rutgers: D’Anton Lynn gets creative to ramp up pressure
Greedy Vance Jr. may not look, on paper, like he would be the answer to USC’s pass rushing problems. One, he’s a nickel corner — hardly a premier pass-rushing position. And two, Vance weighs only 170 pounds, making him the lightest player on the Trojans’ defense.
But as USC struggles to get to the quarterback, defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has had to get increasingly creative. In recent weeks, it’s meant manufacturing pressure from the most unexpected sources.
In this case: a stringy slot corner who never had been credited for a sack in his college career.
“We’re going to keep on trying to mix it up,” Lynn said Wednesday, “and give different people opportunities.”
USC vs. Rutgers: How to watch the game, plus betting odds
USC (3-4) looks to end its three-game losing streak when it faces Rutgers (4-3) on Friday night at the Coliseum. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. PDT and will be shown on Fox. The radio broadcast will be available on 790 AM in the Los Angeles area.
Here’s a look at the betting odds for the game:
