Nov 1, 2014; Pullman, WA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) throws in the pocket against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — USC flexed its ample offensive muscles Saturday night in its season opener and Arkansas State was overwhelmed.
Senior quarterback Cody Kessler completed 19 of 26 passes for 236 yards and four touchdowns, running back Tre Madden rushed for 106 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries and No. 8 USC rolled to a 55-6 victory at the Coliseum.
USC got off to a fast start thanks to Kessler, an array of talented receivers and its ground attack.
Kessler completed 13 of 18 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to stake USC to a 28-0 lead and lay the foundation for a one-sided victory.
Kessler, a Heisman Trophy candidate who only threw five interceptions in 13 games last year, did not throw a pick in his first game of 2015. However, he was sacked five times.
“We had a couple of blown assignments,” USC coach Steve Sarkisian said. “It will be a point of emphasis in practice.”
Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson said, “We were trying to use some quickness and some movement to try and make (Kessler) uncomfortable. We did that at times. Not consistently. … There’s a reason that he is touted as maybe the best in the country, and we saw that.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster, a freshman All-American last year, caught a career-long 61-yard touchdown pass less than two minutes into the game for USC’s first score of the season. Kessler threw a second touchdown pass on the final play of the first quarter, connecting with sophomore Steven Mitchell Jr. for a 14-yard strike.
USC boosted its lead to 21-0 when senior Tre Madden, the Trojans’ most experienced running back, took a handoff off right tackle, burst into the open, cut back sharply to the left and outraced the Red Wolves’ defensive pursuit to the end zone on an electrifying 65-yard run.
Madden was glad to be back on the field after missing the 2014 season because of an injury.
“Overall, I felt pretty good,” Madden said.
Fellow USC running back Ronald Jones II, a true freshman, carried the ball six times for 86 yards. Included was a 44-yard touchdown burst.
The Trojans took their 28-0 lead into the locker room at halftime when Kessler found tight end Taylor McNamara open in the end zone from 2 yards.
USC’s defense was stout throughout the game, but Arkansas State finally broke through on its opening possession of the second half. Michael Gordon ended a seven-play, 78-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run.
But USC immediately responded. Madden scored his second touchdown when he caught an 8-yard pass from Kessler. Jones boosted the score to 42-6 when he raced 44 yards to the end zone.
An Arkansas State miscue resulted in USC extending its lead to 48-6. A backward pass ruled a lateral was scooped up by the Trojans’ Osa Masina, who ran 46 yards untouched down the sideline for a touchdown.
USC’s defense boxed in Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighten, who finished with 58 yards rushing and 86 yards through the air after breaking containment a few times in the first half.
“We defended the pass well,” Sarkisian said.
The season opener marked the debut of USC offensive coordinator Clay Helton calling plays. Sarkisian turned over the duties to devote more time with the defense and special teams.
“I was still involved,” Sarkisian said. “I still snuck some peeks at the play sheet.”
NOTES: USC’s victory over Arkansas State was the Trojans’ 18th consecutive in a home opener. … USC coach Steve Sarkisian lauded the rapid development of true freshman cornerback Iman Marshall. But Marshall, who starred at Long Beach Poly, honed his skills as a sophomore starter going up in practice against Juju Smith-Schuster, who was Poly’s two-way playmaker in 2013. … USC CB-WR Adoree’ Jackson suffered an abdominal strain in the first half and did not return. … Cameron Smith became the first true freshman to start at linebacker in a season opener for USC since Riki Gray in 1978. … Two Arkansas State players came back to their home state to play against USC. Sophomore QB Cameron Birse is from Danville and graduated from San Ramon Valley High School. Senior WR Tyler Trosin is a Folsom High School graduate.
