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USC football spring game recap: Caleb Williams, offense come out hot, defense wins day

The USC defense beat the offense 42-34

Connor Morrissette

In this story:

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Caleb Williams still has it. 

It only took the reigning Heisman Trophy winner three plays to get USC's offense into the end zone during the program's spring game on Saturday. 

With Williams leading the charge, the offense scored on a 10-yard pass from Williams to Mario Williams on its third play from scrimmage. But from there, Caleb Williams didn't play another snap and USC's defense tightened to win 42-34.

"Today was a fun day," USC head coach Lincoln Riley said postgame. 

Below we explain the format of the game and detail every series. To begin the game updates in chronological order, head to the bottom of the page following the paragraph below. 

FORMAT

The USC offense played the defense in the spring game. The defense started the game leading 24-0. The defense received three points for a turnover, three points for a third or fourth down stop, three points for a missed field goal, seven points for a defensive TD and seven points for a safety. The offense received points in the usual way, three points for a field goal, six points for a touchdown and one point for a PAT.

LIVE UPDATES

1:48 pm: The defense holds on the beat the offense 42-34. Caleb Williams played just one series, which resulted in a TD in three plays. 

1:48 pm: Malachi Nelson quarterbacks USC's last offensive series trailing 39-34 with 1:21 left. The drive started at the offense's own 25-yard line. The offense, relying heavily on receiver Raleek Brown, got to the defense's 24-yard line before time really became a factor. On the last play of the game, Jacobe Covington intercepted Nelson and the defense holds on 42-34.

1:36 pm: On a throw to the right sideline from Malachi Nelson that came up a little short, Raleek Brown snagged a 32-yard reception with Domani Jackson in coverage. Jackson was slow to get up and Ceyair Wright replaced him on the field. On the next play, A'Marion Peterson hurdled a defender for a 23-yard gain. Matt Colombo then punched in a 1-yard TD on the next play. With 1:21 left, the defense leads the offense 39-34. 

1:30 pm: Jake Jensen comes in at quarterback for the first time and USC scores a touchdown. A'Marion Peterson punched in a score from seven yards out to make the score 39-27 defense. Jensen had a couple nice throws and scrambles on the drive. Both units features majority reserves. 

1:23 pm: Miller Moss threw a beautiful over the shoulder throw to Zachariah Branch, which set up a 43-yard field goal by Denis Lynch. The defense still leads, 39-20. 

1:15 pm: The defense keeps making the reserve offense look bad. Christian Pierce intercepts a jump ball thrown by Malachi Nelson and the defense takes a 39-17 lead. 

1:08 pm: After a Solomon Tuliaupupu sack of Miller Moss, USC's offense punts. That made the score 36-17 defense. 

1:05 pm: Malachi Nelson fumbles on a sack by Jamil Muhammad. and Max Williams recovers giving the defense three points. 33-17 defense. 

12:55 pm: Caleb Williams is awarded USC's copy of the Heisman Trophy at halftime.

12:51 pm: USC's first team defense holds off Miller Moss and the offense to end the first quarter. There will only be two quarters, so at the half, the defense leads 30-17. 

12:44 pm: Against a defensive unit made up of reserves, Malachi Nelson led USC to a TD at QB. Freshman Quinten Joyner capped off the drive with a 26-yard TD run. USC's defense leads 30-17. 

12:31 pm: MarShawn Lloyd had the play of the next series. Miller Moss hit Lloyd with a swing pass to the right side of the field and he spun away from defenders to gain 34 yards. Later in the drive, a pass interference call on Ceyair Wright against Kyron Hudson, Wright's second of the game, set up a goal to go situation for the offense. But the offense couldn't capitalize as Jacobe Covington intercepted Moss in a fight for the ball with Dorian Singer in the end zone making the score 30-10 defense. 

12:24 pm: After Quinten Joyner broke off a big run, USC's reserve offense led by Malachi Nelson stalled and Denis Lynch kicked a 45-yard field goal. The defense now leads 27-10.

12:16 pm: Sam Greene sacks Miller Moss on third down and the second unit defense forces a three and out on the second unit offense. 27-7 defense. 

12:12 pm: USC's first team offense scores in three plays. That won't make the fans hoping to see more from the defense very happy. Mario Williams caps off a 75 yard drive with a 10-yard TD snag from Caleb Williams. 24-7 USC's defense leads. 

12:08 pm: Eddie Czaplicki kicks off and Zach Branch calls a fair catch. Away we go!

12:05 pm: And here comes USC's offense. 

12:04 pm: USC's defense runs out of the tunnel first. 

11:54 am: The band performs ahead of kickoff. 

11:40 am: Warmups continue. Players run through drills with their position groups. 

11:30 am: The players start stretching as a full team, both the offense in red and the defense in white. 

11:24 am: Caleb Williams is dancing.

11:19 am: USC players continue to warmup.

11:13 am: The newest NIL collective supporting USC Athletics, House of Victory, is handing out these shields to media and fans.

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10:59 am: Injury/participation update

10:52 am: Injury/participation update

10:30 am: The team comes out for warmups.

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Published
Connor Morrissette
CONNOR MORRISSETTE

Senior Reporter covering USC Athletics for SI All Trojans

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