Overview of the Game
Three long hours after his team evacuated the field for a lightning delay, coach Lincoln Riley finally emerged from the tunnel at Ross-Ade Stadium, knowing any hope of a seamless start to USC’s road slate had likely washed away with the rain. Nothing about USC’s first tour through Big Ten country last season had gone smoothly, as the Trojans bafflingly blew fourth-quarter leads in all four of their conference road tilts. So before their second foray into the conference, Riley and his staff had set out to make the season’s slate of trips as seamless as possible.
The Challenges Faced by USC
But Mother Nature had brushed aside those plans before USC’s first road game even began. Instead, rain came down in sheets and lightning loomed in the area, leaving the Trojans lying around the tiny visiting locker room at Ross-Ade Stadium for hours before kickoff, doing whatever they could to stay loose and stay fed. It was hardly the circumstances Riley had hoped for, but after falling short so often on the road a season ago, his Trojans rode out the rain, overcame the elements and held strong in the fourth quarter to beat Purdue 33-17.
Turning Point of the Game
USC would have to outlast not only Purdue, but its own inner demons. It marked the first win outside of the West since 2012 for USC, which had lost 14 straight games in the Eastern and Central time zones. Their first trip through the Big Ten had left them with even weightier baggage to carry. Their four conference road losses a year ago had come in increasingly heartbreaking fashion, from a blocked field goal at Maryland to a failed goal-line stand in Minnesota to a long run that set up a touchdown against Michigan. So when Ryon Sayeri missed a fourth-quarter field goal off the upright that would’ve put Purdue away, the Trojan faithful understandably held their breath.
USC’s Victory
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava throws against Purdue in the second half of a 33-17 Trojans win. Purdue would make it as far as USC’s 14-yard line, with a chance to cut the Trojans’ lead to a single score. But while those watching might have gotten flashbacks, Riley said he was confident that his team was “ready for the moment.” Bishop Fitzgerald was ready as soon as he saw Purdue set up on second down. The senior safety remembered the same red-zone play from practice earlier in the week. So when he saw it unfold, he swooped in for his second interception of the night.
Key Players and Their Roles
The pick, one of three on the night for USC, put the Boilermakers away for good. But it was the Trojans’ second interception that truly turned the game on its head. Purdue had driven into similar territory late in the third quarter, down 23-10, when USC defensive tackle Devan Thompkins tipped a pass at the line from Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne. It fell unexpectedly into the outstretched arms of 360-pound nose tackle Jamaal Jarrett, who took off rumbling in the opposite direction. He didn’t stop running for 70 yards, until he hit paydirt. The two plays would make all the difference for USC, on a day when its offense went stagnant in stretches. Quarterback Jayden Maiava finished with 282 yards passing to go with a rushing touchdown, but 222 of those yards came on seven explosive plays from the Trojans’ passing attack.
Game Statistics and Outcome
USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane makes a catch in front of Purdue defensive back Hudauri Hines during the second half Saturday. The Trojans settled for a field goal on that first drive, but Maiava hit three more pass plays of 20-plus yards before punching in a touchdown himself on their next possession. By the end of the first quarter, he already had 147 yards passing. Purdue, whose offensive coordinator spent the previous two seasons at USC, didn’t have much trouble moving the ball at first, either. It strung together four big plays to reach the red zone in the first quarter, only for Fitzgerald to intercept a pass in the end zone.
Conclusion
In the end, USC left West Lafayette with a road win in the Big Ten, which by any measure was worth the wait. The win marked a significant turnaround for the Trojans, who had struggled on the road in the past. With this victory, USC has taken a crucial step towards overcoming its Big Ten road demons and is now 3-0 on the season.
FAQs
Q: What was the final score of the game between USC and Purdue?
A: The final score was 33-17 in favor of USC.
Q: What was the reason for the delay in the start of the game?
A: The game was delayed due to lightning strikes in the area.
Q: Who was the star player for USC in the game?
A: Quarterback Jayden Maiava and safety Bishop Fitzgerald were key players for USC in the game.
Q: What was the significance of the win for USC?
A: The win marked the first time USC had won outside of the West since 2012 and was a significant step towards overcoming its Big Ten road demons.
