USC 59-20 Georgia Southern (Sep 6, 2025) Recreation Recap

LOS ANGELES — — Makai Lemon made landing catches of 62 and 74 yards within the first quarter, Jayden Maiava handed for 412 yards and 4 scores, and Southern California trounced former coach Clay Helton’s Georgia Southern 59-20 Saturday evening.

Waymond Jordan rushed for 167 yards and a landing, and Ja’Kobi Lane made an exceptional one-handed TD catch because the Trojans (2-0) racked up 755 complete yards. Walker Lyons additionally caught a TD cross, whereas Eli Sanders ran for 2 scores.

“Teams that win the explosive play battles typically win games, so it’s good,” USC coach Lincoln Riley mentioned. “I mean, we’re making some big plays on all sides, which is great. It doesn’t mean it will always be like that, so we’re also looking to play clean and very efficient as well … but we’re certainly not disappointed about the big plays.”

Helton spent elements of eight seasons as the head coach at USC, successful a Rose Bowl and a Pac-12 title. He additionally failed to attain the nationwide championship rivalry demanded of USC coaches earlier than he was fired two video games into the 2021 season.

“I’m very grateful that I got be a Trojan for 12 seasons,” Helton mentioned. “I will always hold this place near and dear to my heart. It’s one of those special places. You get to be a part of it, and you know it’s not going to last forever. You hope it does, but I got to be a part of it.”

The Coliseum did the uncommon honor of welcoming Helton by identify whereas he led Georgia Southern onto the famed subject Saturday, though he was greeted largely with boos. Helton laughed it off.

“They were great,” Helton mentioned. “It’s the beauty of LA. It’s a championship city. They compete like heck here. The beauty of fans is they produce great passion, and there was great passion out there today.”

Camden Brown caught two TD passes within the first half for the Eagles (0-2), who’ve begun Helton’s fourth season with highway losses to Fresno State and USC by a mixed 101-34. Georgia Southern nonetheless racked up 377 yards of offense of their coach’s former dwelling.

In his second recreation at USC, juco switch Jordan rushed for extra yards than any tailback in Riley’s four-year tenure. Maiava’s 412 yards passing had been the 14th-most in USC historical past, boosted by 4 cross performs longer than 50 yards. Lemon completed with 158 yards receiving — all within the first quarter.

But Georgia Southern led lower than two minutes after the opening kickoff when Jordan fumbled and Brown caught a 32-yard TD cross from Weston Bryan on the primary profession throw by the freshman quarterback.

USC answered with that one-handed TD catch by Lane, who hauled in Maiava’s throw regardless of defensive cross interference.

“I think it’s just the constant repetition of catching the ball, just being able to recognize where I’m at on the field and the position I’m in,” said Lane, who made a similar catch in high school. “Just trying to make any play I can.”

Lemon turned a brief reception right into a 62-yard TD romp by the Eagles’ secondary on the subsequent possession, and he made a 74-yard scamper lower than 5 minutes later.

Jordan made a 36-yard TD run early within the second half. King Miller added a 41-yard TD run within the fourth quarter.

Turner’s flip

Helton’s son, Georgia Southern quarterback Turner Helton, went 4 of 9 for twenty-four yards within the fourth quarter. The product of close by Palos Verdes High School transferred from his uncle’s program at Western Kentucky final spring to affix his father.

Turner Helton virtually grew up on the Coliseum, operating round on the sector earlier than video games and spending time within the locker room.

“We hugged right before his first series,” Helton mentioned. “You blink your eyes, and your children get old. He’s a good player, but I’m even more proud of the man he is.”

Takeaways

USC’s offense appears to be like potent, racking up seven performs longer than 35 yards after scoring 73 factors in opposition to Missouri State final week. The protection is not almost as spectacular, with Georgia Southern persistently driving into USC territory and revealing flaws that higher opponents can exploit.

“There’s performs we made final week and possibly some this week that, you already know, if we’re not cleaner in opposition to extra proficient groups, the outcomes most likely aren’t going to seem like that,” Riley said. “We’re still a long ways off from our best.”

Up next

Georgia Southern finally gets its home opener against Jacksonville State on Sept. 13.

USC visits Purdue for its Big Ten opener on Sept. 13.

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