USC Trojans Routs Fresno State Bulldogs 45-17
USC Trojans #13 Caleb Williams throwing a pass to an open receiver. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - On Saturday night, seventh-ranked Southern California and Caleb Williams demonstrated many facets of their attack while continuing to amass scores and yards.
Williams rushed for two more touchdowns in addition to throwing for 284 yards and two scores. The Trojans defeated Fresno State 45-17 thanks to Travis Dye and Austin Jones rushing for over 100 yards each.
For the first time since 2005, Williams completed 25 of 37 passes for the Trojans, who have scored at least 45 points in each of their first three games. Jones had 12 carries for 110 yards and a TD, while Dye had 102 yards on 11 attempts for his second consecutive 100-yard game.
For the first time since 2018, USC (3-0) saw two rushing backs each surpass the 100-yard mark during a contest. The 233 running yards for the Trojans were at a 6.1-yard per-carry average.
USC Trojans #6 Austin Jones (RB) carried the ball 12 times for 110-yards and one touchdown, Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.
"Great win against a good football team," said USC head coach Lincoln Riley. "Very physical game on both sides, very competitive plays on both sides. Certainly a different challenge than we've faced. We said that all week with our team that we're going to get tested and we're going to be faced with some situations in this game that we haven't been in yet as a team, and it was good to see us really respond."
However, the Bulldogs (1-2) setback went beyond only the match. In the third quarter, quarterback Jake Haener was carried off with what coach Jeff Tedford described as a severe ankle sprain. When Solomon Byrd sacked the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year at the Fresno State 46, his right leg twisted unnaturally. Haener's blunder was also retrieved by Byrd.
Haener returned to the sidelines while on crutches and had a boot on his right foot. Prior to being hurt, the senior quarterback was 10 of 17 for 117 yards with a score and an interception. Jordan Mims ran for 114 yards.
Evan Williams, a defensive back for the Bulldogs, suffered a knee injury.
Midway into the second quarter, USC had a 21-3 edge after scoring on its first three possessions. The Trojans won the coin toss, and Williams rolled right before connecting with Jordan Addison for a 3-yard touchdown to cap a 12-play, almost five-minute opening drive.
USC Trojans #3 Jordan Addison scored one touchdown against the Fresno State Bulldogs’ defense. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.
Then the sophomore scored his first two running touchdowns while wearing a USC jersey. Williams made it 14-0 with an 8-yard scamper late in the first quarter. Williams completed a 15-play drive with a 1-yard sneak after Abraham Montano of Fresno State had kicked a field goal.
The Trojans' first three scoring drives against the Bulldogs were at least 12 plays long, in contrast to their previous two games' six touchdown drives of five plays or fewer.
With 6:30 left in the first half, Erik Brooks' touchdown throw of 39 yards brought Fresno State within 21-10. At the 35-yard line, Brooks successfully caught a fast slant from Haener, which led to Calen Bullock missing a tackle. Brooks subsequently outran the USC defenders to score.