On Saturday, USC football kicked off its season in style against Missouri State. The Trojans struck early and never looked back, cruising to a 73-13 victory.
With the game out of hand early, USC was able to play its backups for essentially the entire second half. Hence, while we got to see less of the starters, we got to see a lot of the Trojans‘ younger players who do not normally get playing time.
Who shined in the matchup, and who struggled? Here are some positives and negatives from the game:
Positive: The running backs
USC’s new-look running back room shined in the season opener. The Trojans’ backs rushed for 163 yards on just 20 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman King Miller. In addition, New Mexico transfer RB Eli Sanders had a 73-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass.
Positive: The tight ends
Last season, USC’s tight ends did not score a single touchdown. It did not take very long for that to change this season, as early in the second quarter, redshirt senior Lake McRee took a pass 64 yards to the house. Then in the fourth quarter, redshirt junior Carson Tabaracci added a nine-yard touchdown reception of his own.
Positive: Bishop Fitzgerald
The North Carolina State safety transfer impressed big time in his USC debut. He tied for second on the team with four tackles, recorded a pass defended, and had a 39-yard pick-six for the Trojans’ first defensive touchdown of the year.
Positive: Big plays
Big plays were the theme of the day for USC’s offense. The Trojans scored three touchdowns of over 60 yards. They averaged nearly eight yards per carry, and more than 15 yards per reception.
Negative: Big plays
Big plays were a positive for USC, but they were also a negative? While the Trojans’ offense had numerous long gains, the defense unfortunately allowed a few too, including a 33-yard touchdown pass on 4th and 5. That is the sort of lapse that the Trojans were able to afford against Missouri State, but will not be able to against tougher competition.
Negative: The offensive line
This might be nit-picking a little, but USC’s offensive line should have dominated a Missouri State defensive line that does not exactly have Big Ten-caliber athletes. While the Trojans did not play poorly, they did allow four tackles for a loss and one sack, which is somewhat of a cause for concern.
