Jayden Maiava’s debut for USC delivers the knock-out blow to beat Nebraska 28-20
USC Trojans #14 Jayden Maiava (QB) in his debut as the starting quarterback against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Jayden Maiava, in his debut as the starting quarterback for the USC Trojans (Big 10, 3-5), did not disappoint after completing 25 of his passes for 259 yards, three touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and one interception, helped beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 28-20 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Maiava had plenty of help on offense, with Woody Marks rushing for 147 yards, Duce Robinson with four catches for 90 yards and one touchdown, Zachariah Branch with six catches for 41 yards and one touchdown, and Kyron Hudson had three catches for 25 yards and one touchdown.
"We made some mistakes where we had some opportunities to separate, but I was just super-proud right at the very end," Riley said. "The last drive offensively, and then closing the door defensively there at the end was just tremendous."
Nebraska Cornhuskers #15 Ceyair Wright (CB) 45 yards interception for a touchdown. Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.
The Cornhuskers' defense got the first score of the game after Jayden Maiava's pass was intercepted and returned for a 45-yard touchdown by Ceyair Wright (CB) to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Maiava would take the Trojans 65 yards on nine plays with a 28-yard pass to Duce Robinson down Nebraska's 6-yard line. On the next play, Zachariah Branch caught a 6-yard touchdown pass, and the extra point was good by Michael Lantz tied the game 7-7.
In the second quarter, Maiava drove USC 86 yards on eight plays and capped it off with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kyron Hudson to take a 14-7 lead.
The Cornhuskers would tie the game 14-14 when Dylan Raiola threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Emmett Johnson (RB) on nine plays and 75 yards with 9:21 left before halftime.
The Trojans' defense had their first turnover when Jaylin Smith (CB) intercepted Raiola's pass at their 35-yard line.
Nebraska had the football first in the third quarter, marched downfield to the Trojans' 10-yard line, and had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by John Hohl to give them a 17-14 lead.
USC Trojans #2 Duce Robinson 48-yard touchdown catch down the right side of the field. Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.
USC regained the lead 21-17 when Maviava, at Nebraska's 21-yard line, threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Duce Robinson.
The Cornhuskers caught a break when Maiava was flushed out of the pocket by Mikal Gbayor and fumbled the football at their 16-yard line where they recovered the football.
Nebraska would have to settle for another field goal by Hohl from 30 yards out to trail 21-20.
The specials team for Nebraska kept the score close after Ceyair Wright blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt by the Trojans' Lantz.
USC Trojans #14 Jayden Maiava (QB) 2 -yard touchdown run alte in the fourth quarter. Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.
Maiava, with 2:45 left in the game, cool as ice, would take the Trojans downfield on 13 plays for 85 yards and capped the drive off with a 2-yard touchdown run to help secure their 28-20 Homecoming win over Nebraska (Big 10, 2-5), and to keep their bowl game hopes alive.
"He did a good job kind of staying in the moment. He got on himself on the early pick-6 and certainly on the fumble later in the game, but then he was able to get past it mentally, and I thought the guys made some big plays around him," Riley said. "He gave guys opportunities to make plays throughout the game, so no, I thought he showed some poise. And you can tell he's played some college ball.
Raiola completed 27 passes for 191 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, and Emmett Johnson had seven catches for 36 yards and one touchdown.