USC vs Utah Score: Trojans Win Big in Home Opener

Saturday’s USC vs Utah State score line was plenty favorable to Clay Helton’s Trojans, who won their first game of the season, 45-7.

The lowdown: A week after putting in one of the worst performances in school history, USC looked to bounce back against a Utah State team expected to be a contender in the Mountain West.

But right away, a first-drive dead-ball foul on Chuma Edoga appeared to loom large. The sophomore tackle made contact with an official, becoming the second USC player to be disqualified from a game this season.

However, the Trojans still got out to a quick start after blocking the Aggies’ first punt of the game. Max Browne then fired a strike to receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to the right, as he crossed the goal line to complete a shortened three-play scoring drive.

ALSO READ: Grading USC’s Offense vs. Utah State

From that point on, USC settled down on offense, contained Utah State’s attack and cruised to an early lead. The Trojans scored on drives of 87 and 48 yards, including Sam Darnold recording his first career touchdown pass. He found Deontay Burnett for a 13-yard score midway through the second quarter.

USC took a 21-0 lead to the half and would extend it in the third. After settling for a field goal on the first drive of the third quarter, Adoree’ Jackson dropped jaws with a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown to make it 31-0. He snared the ball on the hop, with his back to the coverage, and reversed field to finish off his third career score on a punt return.

LISTEN: USC vs. Utah State Recap

Utah State scored on the final play of the third quarter to end the shut out and the fourth quarter saw the Trojans empty the bench to get the rest of the two deep some work.

The takeaway: It wasn’t all prettiest USC win, with yet another ejection and an offense that was still working out the kinks. But Helton’s Trojans got a feel-good win to right the ship before next week’s tough trip to Stanford.

The biggest issue? USC got bitten a bit by the injury bug. Safety Marvell Tell was injured following a third quarter tackle and never returned.

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Sophomore running back Ronald Jones was seen on the trainer’s table in the first half and didn’t touch the ball afterwards.

SEE MORE: USC Injury Updates on Ronald Jones and Marvell Tell

Tell and Jones are two pivotal players for the Trojans’ future, and the severity of their injuries will be relayed from Helton following the game.

Player of the game: Darreus Rogers caught his seventh pass midway through the third quarter, to give him a new career high. Max Browne spoke at length during the week that Rogers would be his go-to receiver if Smith-Schuster was blanketed, and it came to fruition.

Next on tap: After a couple of non-conference games, USC will kick off the 2016 Pac-12 season next week on the Farm against in-state rival Stanford. The Cardinal beat the Trojans twice last season, including in the Pac-12 Championship Game.