Week Two Wrap Up: USC
The Georgia Southern Eagles have started 0-2 for the first time since 2017 when the Eagles lost to #12 Auburn and FCS New Hampshire to start the season with Tyson Summers at the helm.
After losing in Week One to a solid Fresno State squad, the Eagles looked to make some strides against a very talented USC team. Georgia Southern spent the week in Oxnard, California utilizing the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp facility to practice ahead of their matchup with the Trojans.
USC won the toss and elected to receive the first half kickoff and began their first drive at their own 25-yard line. On their third play from scrimmage, DB Prince Green III forced a fumble that was recovered by DL Caleb Moore to set up the Eagles offense with a short field. After two plays, the offense found themselves in a 3rd and 1 situation and ran out QB Weston Bryan to try and pick up the first down. Bryan dropped back and threw a pass into one-on-one coverage and WR Camden Brown fought through pass interference to make an incredible catch to put the Eagles up 6-0 less than two minutes into the game. The Eagles went for the two point conversion and QB Turner Helton threw an incomplete pass and the score remained 6-0.
The Trojans second drive started at their own 25-yard line. USC went 75 yards in eight plays and capped of their first touchdown drive of the night with a one-handed catch by WR Ja’Kobi Lane who got away with a push off. K Ryon Sayeri made the extra point and the Trojans took the lead 7-6.
Georgia Southern got the ball back after the score, but were unable to get any movement and went three-and-out and P Alex Smith booted the ball away to the USC 20-yard line. Two plays later, QB Jayden Maiava connected with WR Makai Lemon for a 62-yard touchdown. Sayeri made the extra point to put USC up 14-6 with 6:53 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles next started started at their own 25-yard line after a touchback and put together several decent plays and a timely to get the ball into USC territory before stalling out at the USC 46-yard line. P Alex Smith trotted out and booted the ball away and pinned the Trojans just inside their own 15-yard line. Three players later, QB Jayden Maiava connected with WR Makai Lemon again - this time for a 74-yard touchdown. Sayeri converted the extra point and the Trojans took a 21-6 lead.
On the Eagles next drive, QB JC French IV stared down a seam route and was intercepted by DB DeCarlos Nicholson to give the Trojans the ball at their own 15-yard line. USC moved the chains once but ended the drive punting from their own 29-yard line. WR Josh Dallas was the deep man and fielded the punt at the Georgia Southern 25-yard line where the offense took over.
7 plays and 75 yards later, WR Camden Brown caught his second touchdown pass of the night - this time from QB JC French IV. K Tripp Bryant III made the extra point and the lead was cut to just eight points with 11:32 remaining in the first half.
USC began their next drive at the Georgia Southern 26-yard line and moved the ball with ease until the Eagles defense forced a field goal attempt inside the red zone. K Ryon Sayeri made the field goal from 26 yards out and put the Trojans up 24-13.
Georgia Southern received the kickoff and began their next drive at their own 25-yard line. The offense moved the ball well after a solid run by RB Omari Arnold and a few receptions by WR Dalen Cobb and TE Ahmon Green. The Eagles stalled out at the USC 23-yard line and ended up going for it on 4th and 2, but the ball was thrown behind the intended receiver and was dropped so the Trojans took over there after a turnover on downs. Just four plays later, QB Jayden Maiava connected with WR Walker Lyons on a 16-yard touchdown to make the score 31-13 in favor of the Trojans.
After the ensuing kickoff, Georgia Southern began their possession at the USC 25-yard line. After a couple of solid runs by RB OJ Arnold, the drive fell apart after a sack and the Eagles were forced to punt again. The defense forced a three-and-out and USC was forced to punt. Freshman WR Peyton Plott was the deep man and muffed the punt that was luckily he was able to recover to give the Eagles offense the ball back at their own 19-yard line. The offense ran out the clock and went to the locker room for halftime down 31-13.
Georgia Southern received the kickoff to start the second half and went three-and-out and P Alex Smith was called on again to boot the ball away. It was fair caught by WR Makai Lemon at the USC 29-yard line. Six plays into the drive, RB Waymond Jordan broke off a 36-yard touchdown run to put USC up 38-13. The Eagles again went three-and-out and P Alex Smith booted it away to WR Makai Lemon who fair caught the punt at the USC 28-yard line.
After going 70 yards in just three plays, RB Eli Sanders punched it into the end zone from one yard out to give the Trojans a 45-13 lead with 7:58 left in the 3rd Quarter. Georgia Southern put together a long, methodical drive that ended with a touchdown pass from QB JC French IV to WR Dalen Cobb from 13 yards out to make the score 45-20.
The ensuing Trojans drive traveled quickly down the field and ended with a touchdown run from RB Eli Sanders from 5 yards out to make it 52-20. Georgia Southern’s offense went three-and-out and gave the ball right back to USC’s potent offense. Three plays later, with the backups in the game, RB King Miller broke off a 41-yard touchdown to make the score 59-20 with 10:24 left in the game.
HC Clay Helton pulled the starting QB at this point and the backup quarterback, Turner Helton, entered the game. He threw for a first down on his first pass as an Eagle but after that, the drive stalled and P Alex Smith was forced to punt again. The Trojans used their next drive to burn as much time as possible and eventually punted the ball away with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
On Helton’s second drive, the final possession of the game, he led the Eagles from their own 10-yard line to inside the red zone before time expired. The final score of the matchup with USC was 59-20.
Defensively, it was another poor showing for Georgia Southern as they surrendered 755 total yards of offense - 446 passing and 309 rushing. USC RB Waymond Jordan finished the game with 167 yards and a touchdown on just 16 carries and WR Makai Lemon had 4 catches for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Offensively, the Eagles seemed to have it going early on but just ran out of gas down the stretch. WR Camden Brown played well and ended the game with 3 catches for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns. WR Dalen Cobb was another bright spot as he finished with 6 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. This group looked much more confident than last week and overall played much better, but it just was not enough to hang in there with an explosive USC team.
The Eagles have their home opener against Jacksonville State next Saturday in the friendly confines of Paulson Stadium. If Georgia Southern wants to be competitive in that game or any other game on the schedule, the defensive coaching staff has to get these guys on the same page and clean up schematically. Giving up 330 rushing yards per game is a recipe for disaster and is not going to win many games going forward.
