Trojans QB Maiava Shreds Penn State Pass Defense in Victory

Coming into Saturday’s game against the Penn State Nittany Lions,  University of Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava was ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the Big Ten Conference at 290 passing yards per contest.

The Nittany Lions were the best in the conference at defending the pass, allowing 119 yards per game, a mere 55 percent completion rate, and only two touchdown passes.

Penn State had not allowed a touchdown via the pass in two weeks.

Who would blink first?

Maiava surpassed those per game limits of the Penn State defensive secondary by the second quarter. Going into halftime tied at 17-17, Maiava had completed 62 percent of his passes (13-of-21) for 210 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

The Trojans would go on to defeat the Nittany Lions 31-23.

With those two first half touchdowns, Maiava has 17 for the season, which is tops in the Big Ten.

Maiava posted explosive passing plays of 22 and 40 yards. The “white-out” conditions had zero effect on Maiava and the Trojans offense.

It was a battle of the quarterbacks in the first 30 minutes. Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht completed 80 percent of his passes (12-of-15) for 175 yards and a touchdown. Becht did not throw an interception, and finished the game with 289 passing yards and had a 66 percent completion rate.

On USC’s first possession of the second half and down 20-17, Maiava drove the Trojans down the field, hitting receiver Trent Mosley for 20 yards. A short time later, USC scored to take the lead at 24-20.

In the fourth quarter, Maiava connected with Mosley for 21 yards. That set up a scoring toss to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Maiava’s third touchdown pass of the game that gave the Trojans the road victory.

Maiava finished the game with 301 yards on 21-of-33 passing (64 percent) and three touchdowns.

More importantly, Maiava had zero interceptions after throwing one in each of his last two games. In addition, Maiava averaged 14.3 yards per completion against the Nittany Lions.

Mosley, in his first game back from injury, caught nine of Maiava’s passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Penn State’s pass defense was a non-factor in this game. They uncharacteristically gave up explosive passing plays and had no answer on how to stop the USC receivers. Three different Trojans caught touchdown passes in the game.

It was the Trojans second conference road win of the season, as they beat Rutgers earlier in the season. USC moved to 6-1 on the season ahead of their bye week. Maiava and the Trojans travel to take on Wisconsin on Oct. 24.