Last Ride: USC Handles SJSU In 2023 Opener -

USC wins their final Pac-12 opener with a 56-28 victory of San Jose State. The Trojans began 2023 with a strong showing.

That saying about one day we all walked outside not realizing our childhoods were over cuts deep, especially knowing this was the last home opener for sixth-ranked USC as a member of the Pac-12. Despite that melancholy feeling a 56-28 victory over a relentless, yet outgunned San Jose State team with touchdowns from seniors and freshman alike made the 63,411 fans in attendance roar with the same passion of yesteryear.

Improv Leads To Highlight

A fumbled snap by Heisman winner Caleb Williams still resulted in a career-long 76-yard touchdown catch for senior wideout Tahj Washington. The Texas native is a renowned cook off the field and clearly on it too. Arizona transfer WR Dorian Singer caught the first touchdown of the game for 13 yards and the first of his USC career, but Washington’s catch and run was what woke the Trojans offense up to a 14-7 lead. They never trailed in the game. Washington finished with two catches for 85 yards and a score.

Around Full Press Coverage

OPINION: Morten Andersen: The Toughest Place To Kick? For Me, It Was This Place

NFL: NFL 2022: Five Key Statistics for Week 2

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs Stock Report: Week 2 2022

FULL PRESS BETS: NFL MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes Leapfrogs Josh Allen For Top Spot

EP 136: Week 3 Studs and Duds
by Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 7:01 pm

MORE PODCASTS From FPC

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Fantasy Football Value Picks In Every Round

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 54: Chargers At Chiefs Preview

Welcome To Troy

Freshman phenom Zachariah Branch was a ticking time bomb with a few early, big returns on special teams, a twenty-five-yard catch and run touchdown in the third quarter and lastly a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown that looked like an Adoree Jackson and Reggie Bush highlight combined into one. In his first ever game the Las Vegas native finished with 232 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. His kick return put the game away and he finished the run with the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo celebration. Branch said postgame that he’s been playing FIFA for two months and couldn’t wait for the opportunity to do it.

Consistent Contributions To Start Season

Mr. Reliable, aka senior running back Austin Jones had a quiet but consistent game with 54 yards rushing and two touchdowns on six carries. The defense gave up 198 rushing yards but that was much later in the game when the score was well out of reach. Williams probably had the quietest four-touchdown game a person could have along with completing 72 percent of his passes. The offense was stifled very early in the game with penalties and two sacks by a tenacious Spartan defense that was top-fifteen in the country last year.

Foot Off The Accelerator

The defense gave up 198 rushing yards but that was much later in the game when the score was well out of reach. Their most notable lapse was a fifty-seven-yard run by back Quali Conley, who finished with 106yards on six carries. Yet again, the defense left a lot to be desired and concerned about but Head Coach Lincoln Riley made it clear that there is a lot of work to be done and they’ve got the right people to do it. Nevada comes to town Saturday, September 9th at 3:30PM.