All Ball Sports: USC – new quarterback, new hope; Sea Hawks downed

by Paul Teetor

USC Football coach Lincoln Riley finally made the key personnel change this week that he should have made a month ago, when it became obvious that Miller Moss was not the quarterback to lead USC back to the promised land – or even to a bowl game. At this point the Trojans would settle for a spot in the Toilet Bowl.

With the team’s record at a pathetic 4-5 and looking outclassed in their first year in the Big Ten, Riley used the team’s bye week to demote Moss and elevate Jayden Maiava, who transferred in last spring after starring at Nevada Las Vegas last season. He put up big numbers at UNLV, but could he do it on a bigger stage with higher stakes against a tough team like Nebraska?

Maiava has three advantages over Moss. First, he has a rocket arm whereas Moss only has an average arm: able to make the basic throws, but not capable of launching deep howitzer shots down the field. 

Second, he is a legit 6-foot-5, whereas Moss is barely 6-foot-1. He can see over the lineman, Moss had to look around them.

Third, Maiava is a legit threat to run the ball on a designed play, or if he has to scramble when the play breaks down. Moss simply was not the versatile athlete that Maiava is.

So you have to wonder why it took so long for Riley to make the change as the Trojan’s season fell apart with a series of close losses where Moss simply could not get them over the finish line.

With the Coliseum crowd pumped up with hope and anticipation for the latest post-Caleb Williams savior, Maiava tested their patience by throwing a pick-six interception on the Trojan’s first possession. A familiar sense of dread fell over the Coliseum.

Here we go again.     

But instead of being rattled, and losing his confidence, Maiava steadied himself, and brought the Trojans back to a 14-14 halftime tie and a 21-20 lead after three quarters.

Then, late in the fourth quarter he showed why Riley had elevated him in a rare in-season change. Facing a fourth-down and one yard to go, Maiava looked like he was lining up for a quarterback sneak. But instead, with Nebraska defenders jamming the line of scrimmage, he faked a short pass and started running around the left side of the perimeter. And just as it looked like he was going to be tackled for no gain, he pitched the ball to running back Woody Marks, who sprinted 34 yards deep into Nebraska territory.

Four plays later Maiava sauntered into the end zone for the game sealing touchdown in a 28-20 victory and all was well in Trojan Land. The newest savior had passed his first test.

Now he just has to do it again next week against arch-rival UCLA in the Rose Bowl. If he carries the Trojans to victory in that game, it will make Trojan fans forget — and possibly even forgive — the mess that this third season under Lincoln Riley has become. 

It didn’t help Riley’s cause that this week the NCAA put the Trojan program on probation for violating its rules on countable coaches, a technical violation that was essentially a slap on the wrist and has since been changed by the NCAA. 

But if the administration was looking for an excuse to fire Riley – and they probably are not, at least not yet – the disciplinary action would come in handy.

Fight on.

Rest in Peace, John Robinson

Speaking of USC football, a legendary giant passed from the LA sporting scene this week: former USC and Rams coach John Robinson died at age 89.

For fans of a certain age, the affable, easy-going Robinson was a football icon, coaching USC to a national championship in 1978 with a run-oriented offense. He compiled a 104-35 record at USC, and was so successful that the Rams came calling and made him their head coach in 1983. His record with the Rams was 75-68, and he twice came within one win of the Super Bowl.

He had a second stint at USC, but it was not as successful as his first. Still his bubbly personality and existential philosophy – it’s all about enjoying the journey, not so much the destination – endeared him to fans and players alike.

In the drill-sergeant era of modern football, he was a welcome ray of sunshine, humanity and humor.

John Robinson will be sorely missed. 

NFL veteran and Redondo Union Highschool football Coach Keith Ellison. Photo by Ray Vidal

Sea Hawks go down fighting                            

The Redondo Union High School football team ended its season with 34-20 to Saint Bonaventure in the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 quarterfinals Friday night.

The Sea Hawks, after a long road trip up to Ventura County, fell behind by 20-0, clawed their way back to within 20-13 in the fourth quarter, and kept fighting all the way to the end, but couldn’t sustain their comeback.

Still, for a little while following quarterback Cole Leinart’s 9-yard completion to Cadence Turner with 10 minutes left in the game to cut the deficit to seven, there was hope among the Redondo fans for yet another great comeback.

But amid a flurry of late game touchdowns – both teams scored a touchdown in the final four and a half minutes — the comeback fell short and the Sea Hawks’ season was over.

Their final record was 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the Pioneer League for another successful season in the Coach Keith Ellison era.

When he came in a few years ago, Redondo football had hit rock bottom. Now it is almost all the way back to the top of the heap that Sea Hawks fans are used to.

It won’t be long now.

Contact: teetor.paul@gmail.com. ER