SAN DIEGO, Calif. — In his first game as a starter, Miller Moss set two new records for the most touchdowns in DIRECTV Holiday Bowl game history and in USC bowl game history with six. He threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns to lift USC to a 42-28 victory,Wednesday over Louisville at Petco Park.
USC moved to 8-5 in their final game as members of the Pac-12. This victory improves USC’s all-time post season record of 35-20. This was also the first time these two teams ever met on the gridiron.
Moss tied the Holiday Bowl record with four touchdowns before halftime, senior wide receiver Tahj Washington caught two of them. Washington’s final performance as a Trojan will help his draft stock as he declared for the NFL Draft.
“These last six weeks have been very memorable being on this team and we have been through so much adversity lately,” Washington said. “How we just came together it made a huge difference, you could see it tonight how everyone showcased that brotherhood we talk about.”
At halftime, USC led 28-14.
Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo scored a one yard touchdown early in the third quarter to pull within seven. The touchdown was keyed by an interception by Quincy Riley who ran it back 61-yards, setting the record for the longest interception return in Holiday Bowl history.
USC answered with an 11-play drive down field, ending in a 12-yard Moss pass to Ja’Kobi Lane for the touchdown.
Louisville scored early in the fourth quarter, Isaac Guerendo ran for a two-yard touchdown.
Moss fired back with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Duce Robinson to put USC ahead two scores, 42-28.
For USC, Moss was 23 of 33 for 372- with six touchdowns and an interception. For Louisville, Jack Plummer was 21 of 25 for 141 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Louisville entered the game as 7-point favorites with an over/under of 59 points via SportsLine consensus.
The Trojans came into this game without 20 players including Heisman quarterback Caleb Williams. Running back MarShawn Lloyd and wide receiver Brendan Rice declared for the NFL draft. For the defense, two notable losses to the transfer portal were linebacker Tackett Curtis and cornerback Domani Jackson.
With USC’s season coming to a close, they have a lot to look forward to going into next year in the Big 10. Miller faced adversity in his first years of college, as opportunities to play were few and far between, but he persevered and believed in the Head Coach Lincoln Riley’s quarter back development system.
I asked Moss in the post game press conference if he was aware of his nickname “ It’s Miller Time,” he responded, “I’ve heard it before, it’s cool, we can get a little more creative.”