GAME RECAP AND TOP PHOTOS: Trojans Score Most Points Since 1930 in Blowout Season Opening Win Over Missouri State

by Isabella Lyons

The University of Southern California defeated Missouri State 73 to 13 in their home opener on Saturday, Aug. 30. The Trojans are entering their second season in the Big 10 conference, with their first Big 10 opponent being Purdue in two weeks. USC is led by Lincoln Riley who is in his 4th year with USC, bringing key players like Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison to Los Angeles with him.

Missouri State is led by Ryan Beard, who is entering his 3rd season as the Head Coach for the Bears. Missouri State finished their 2024 season with an 8-4 record. 

Missouri State drew first blood with a made field goal by Yousef Obeid, but the Trojans quickly responded with a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Waymond Jordan. That would be the first touchdown and second carry of his career as a Trojan. This was the first time sign of an uphill battle for Missouri as the Trojans would go on to score 28 unanswered points, including a Bryan Jackson touchdown for 3 yards to finish off the first quarter with a score of 14-3, USC.

The Trojans opened up the second quarter with a one play, 64-yard touchdown by Lake McRee on a short reception that he ran to the endzone, followed by a pick 6 by Bishop Fitzgerald. Missouri State answered with a 33-yard score by Tristian Gardner. 

However, Jayden Maiava rushed for 3 yards shortly after, followed by Eli Sanders’ 73-yard screen pass from Maiava to the endzone to bring the game to a halftime score of 42-10, USC. Six different players were able to get into the endzone for the Trojans in the first half.

Riley and the Trojans made the decision to sit the majority of their starters going into the second half, giving true freshman Husan Longstreet a chance to prove his potential. Longstreet would go on to score a 5-yard rushing touchdown with 4:34 to go in the 3rd. On USC’s following drive, Longstreet would get stripped by Mitchell Toney and recovered by DJ Wesolak to give the Bears the ball again. Yousef Obeid followed that by kicking a 46-yard field goal, which was the Bears’ final points of the evening. King Miller would rush for 75 yards to bring the score at the end of the 3rd quarter to 56-13, USC.

Shortly into the 4th quarter, Husan Longstreet would scramble for a 17-yard touchdown. USC would finish off the game with a 32-yard field goal from Ryon Sayeri and a 9-yard Carson Tabaracci touchdown reception from Longstreet. Throughout the entire game, USC did not punt, bringing the final score to 73-13, USC, their most points scored in a single game since 1930.

Jayden Maiava completed 15/18 passes for a total 295 yards and two touchdowns and ran for one touchdown. Longstreet was perfect in the second half, going 9/9 for 69 yards and a touchdown, rushing for two touchdowns. 

The Trojans are at home again in the Coliseum to face the Georgia Southern Eagles this upcoming Saturday, Sept. 6 and Missorui State visits Marshall on the same day.