Jayden Maiava passed for five touchdowns and No. 14 Southern California weathered an early threat from Louisiana to roll off 21 consecutive points in a 49-30 win on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
The Trojans (3-0) were clinging to a 14-10 lead late in the second quarter when Maiava’s pass caromed off the hand of Ragin’ Cajuns safety Maurion Eleam and into the arms of Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.
Dixon-Wyatt’s touchdown reception of 19 yards opened the floodgates for USC, which added another score less than two minutes later on Trent Mosley’s 86-yard punt return for a score.
The two quick touchdowns gave the Trojans a 28-point first half after Maiava had connected with Mark Bowman on a pair of short scoring strikes. The two touchdown receptions of 5 and 9 yards were part of his team highs of six catches and 83 yards.
Maiava came out of intermission to throw his fourth touchdown of the night, a 21-yard strike to Mosley. However, Mosley limped off the field after the score, marking an end to his two-catch, 33-yard night.
Maiava exited in the fourth quarter but not before he added a fifth touchdown pass. Maiava connected with Zacharyus Williams on a 44-yard score to cap a 19-of-29, 261-yard effort.
USC’s 28-7 stretch made the difference after facing a stiff challenge for the better part of the first two quarters.
Louisiana (1-1) moved to a 14-10 deficit midway through the second quarter when Steven Blanco’s goal-line carry capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
After a slow start on offense, managing just 18 yards in the first quarter, the Ragin’ Cajuns finished with 358. Quarterback Lunch Winfield went 16-of-22 passing for 212 yards, including a 14-yard connection with Russell Babineaux, who finished with six receptions for a game-high 91 yards.
Winfield also scored on runs of one and 32 yards, part of his team-high 91 rushing yards for the game.
King Miller led the Trojans with 128 yards on 18 carries, including an exclamation-point, 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.