Minus Williams, USC’s Moss sets bowl TD record

Dec 28, 2023, 01:00 AM ET SAN DIEGO– USC quote goodbye to the Pac-12 Conference with a six-pack to go and an eggnog bath to toast an otherwise plain season.With Caleb Williams watching from the sideline, Miller Moss tossed a Vacation Bowl-record six touchdown passes in his first college start, and USC ended a discouraging project by beating No. 16 Louisville 42-28 on Wednesday night. Later, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley had a tub of eggnog put over his head.Williams, the 2022 Heisman Prize winner who pulled out of the game, viewed from the sideline with his No. 13 jersey spending time his neck. He ran onto the field and got on Moss in celebration after the redshirt sophomore two times took a knee in triumph formation at Petco Park.While Williams was amongst numerous Trojans who sat out, others showed up to play, such as redshirt senior wide receiver Tahj Washington, who captured 2 touchdown passes.Editor’s Picks”From a leadership standpoint, we had an actually strong senior group that wanted to come back and play this game, and I believe

that was truly led by them, “Moss stated.”They set the example, and it was simple for me to then fall in line behind them.” Asked if Moss secured the starting quarterback task for next year, wideout Kyron Hudson, who blocked a punt then caught a scoring pass shortly afterwards, said:”What Miller did out there, it’s something that’s going to assist us in the future, so, personally, yes, he did. I’m extremely delighted for Miller. He waited his time, and he’s all set for it. He’s the guy we need.” Moss took full advantage of the opportunity he was provided when Williams, the presumptive first general choice in the NFL draft, opted out.Moss was 23-of-33 for 372 backyards with one interception. He broke the Holiday Bowl record of 4 goal passes held by 4 players, consisting of Jim McMahon in BYU’s miracle 46-45 comeback

win versus SMU in 1980. The milestone came late in the third quarter when Moss lobbed a 12-yard pass to a leaping Ja’Kobi Lane in the back of the end zone. Lane’s second TD reception of the night provided USC a 35-21 lead.Moss included on with a beautiful 44-yard scoring strike to Duce Robinson for a 42-28 lead with 10 minutes to go.The six TD passes were likewise the most by a quarterback in his very first start for USC (8-5), which

had lost three straight games and five of 6 can be found in after opening the campaign with championship game goals.

The scoring tosses likewise were a Trojans bowl record and tied the Pac-12 bowl mark.The Trojans played their final Pac-12 football game. They are joining the Huge Ten next season, together with fellow Pac-12 defectors UCLA, Oregon and Washington.”We could have entered into this game not caring about it, “Riley stated.

“Honestly, all the years and wins and things, this was as fun a win as I can keep in mind as a head coach. Just with all the changes, all the backward and forward, six weeks, 20-plus guys that didn’t play in this game for various factors. “That’s an excellent football team that we just batter on.”Isaac Guerendo ran 23 times for 161 backyards and three goals for Louisville (10-4). Jack Plummer tossed for 141 lawns without any goals. The right-handed quarterback dislocated the pinky on his tossing hand early in the 2nd quarter and had it popped back in. He stated it didn’t affect his throwing.Moss likewise tossed scoring passes of 17 and 29 lawns to Washington, who finished his first 1,000-yard getting season. Hudson caught a 9-yard touchdown pass 2 plays after obstructing Brady Hodges’punt, which went out of bounds at the Cardinals’18-yard line. “They had a couple matchups of fast players on our safeties,

and it simply wasn’t among our better days, “Louisville coach Jeff Brohm stated.”A great deal of those guys have actually played well all year long; today wasn’t their finest day.”Leading 28-14, the Trojans were driving early in the third quarter when Moss was obstructed at the objective line by Quincy Riley, who returned it 61 backyards to USC’s 39-yard line. Five plays later, Guerendo scored on a 1-yard run to pull the Cardinals within a touchdown.Guerendo had actually scored on a 2-yard work on Louisville’s very first belongings of the game.After USC kicker Denis Lynch was wide right on a 38-yard field goal try, the Trojans got the ball right back when Max Williams strip-sacked Plummer, with Solomon Byrd recuperating at Louisville’s 19-yard line. Moss threw a brief pass to Washington, who deked two defenders before diving into completion zone to connect the

rating 7-7. USC jumped to a 21-7 lead on Moss’ second scoring pass to Washington and

Hudson’s subsequent TD. Evan Conley scored on a 9-yard run for Louisville before USC went 75 yards in five plays just before halftime, with Moss dodging a defender, rolling right and chucking up a 31-yarder to Lane for a 28-14 advantage.