After a complete performance against Fresno State, the momentum seemed to dwindle in Game 3 for USC. The Trojans pulled off the victory, but this performance created more questions than excitement. However, there is still so much to like about this team three weeks into the season.
The Trojans' offense had another playmaker, Mark Bowman, rise to the forefront. He looked just as dominant as the other talented freshman, Trent Mosley, who produced another very impressive game. Jayden Maiava may be feeling the effects of an arm injury, however, it is clear as day he trusts his young playmakers. That is crucial to start this season.
It took a minute for things to get explosive, but King Miller in the second half took off. Miller finished the game by
exploding for 100 yards, and he finished the game finding the end zone. The offense wasn't perfect, but it showed we can score with ease.
On the defensive end, the Trojans held Lunch Winfield in check in the first half, but like in Game 1, USC took their foot off the gas. Lunch Winfield tore the Trojans' defense up with both his legs and through the air. It was a one-man show, but the Trojans having no answer for Winfield created multiple questions on that end. This Trojans defense will struggle with many other dual-threat quarterbacks, maybe the likes of Demond Williams.
USC got away with a lot in this game, both defensively and as a team. They can't afford to make the same mistakes they did in this game, against even Washington, let alone the juggernauts of the Big Ten. Gary Patterson and this unit need to get back to the drawing board. Luke Wafle, however, stood out, and this was a performance in which he took over.
USC will kick off against Rutgers next week, and while they have been terrible to start the season, the worst thing the Trojans can do is to get two mediocre wins heading into Week 5 vs. Oregon.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football took a step backward in Game 3 despite victory
