SAN DIEGO — Despite USC’s 7-5 record, Louisville knew not to take the tradition-rich Trojans lightly in the Holiday Bowl.
Though both football teams were looking to overcome losing skids and end the season with a win, the Trojans were playing for pride after a tumultuous season that included the firing of their defensive coordinator. USC quarterback Miller Moss emerged as the biggest star and helped his team turn the tide. Replacing 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams, Moss threw a Holiday Bowl- record six touchdown passes in USC’s 42-28 win over Louisville on Wednesday night at Petco Park.
Cardinals defensive lineman Stephen Herron, who never beat USC during his time at Stanford, wasn’t fazed by the Trojans’ record and noted how seriously he was taking the game.
“(USC coach) Lincoln Riley’s a crazy offensive mind, one of the best in the game right now, and you have to respect that,” Herron said Dec. 19. “They recruit just as well as anybody, so you kind of have to treat this like a regular game, like a championship game.”
Even with USC being without several key players, including Williams, the Trojans weren’t without talent. The program has had a top-10 recruiting class in two of the past three years, and it showed Wednesday night.
Louisville’s defensive line was dominant all season but struggled to get pressure on Moss, a four-star recruit coming out of high school, and the Cardinals’ secondary couldn’t stop USC’s receivers.
By the end of the first half, Moss tied the previous Holiday Bowl record with four touchdown passes on 13-for-18 throwing for 281 yards, giving the Trojans a 28-14 lead.
Though USC boasted talent and star power, Louisville had its own stars destined to make a name for themselves.
Cornerback Quincy Riley has been on an island for much of the season and showed the Trojans…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/louisville-football-entered-holiday-bowl-041702987.html
Author : The Courier Journal
Publish date : 2023-12-28 04:17:02
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
