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Live updates: USC pulls away from Oregon State for 38-10 victory

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USC (5-1, 3-1 in Pac-12 play) overcame early turnovers to defeat Oregon State (1-5, 0-3) today at the Coliseum in a Pac-12 Conference game.

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Trojans advance their cause with big but somewhat sloppy win over Beavers

Defensive tackle Rasheem Green, bottom, sacks Oregon State quarterback Darell Garretson as defensive lineman Christian Rector assists in the second quarter.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The decision, in USC’s 38-10 victory over Oregon State on Saturday, was in doubt four about six minutes after the coin toss.

USC marched down the field and scored, then converted a Jack Jones interception into another touchdown. About 54 minutes of football remained, and USC led by 14. It was no lock that the Beavers, who have averaged less than 18 points a game against FBS opponents this season, would even score that many. They would not..

For the remaining three hours, there was no drama left for the crowd of 60,314 at the Coliseum to enjoy. Nor was there much good football.

USC won by enough to credibly declare that progress had been made. The Trojans scored on two passes of 30 yards or longer, ran the ball mostly at will and, for the first time in a long time, escaped without any apparent major injuries. They also played sloppily enough to invite skepticism.

USC committed numerous mistakes — three turnovers, sloppy special teams play to go with a general malaise — but Oregon State was a forgiving opponent. The Beavers generally refused to turn those mistakes into points.

Such as in the first quarter when USC muffed a punt on the 29-yard line and Oregon State proceeded to gain just one yard, attempt a 46-yard field goal and watch as Jones blocked it.

Or after the very next play, when Darnold fumbled a pass, the ball slipping out of his hands mid-throw, and Oregon State recovered at the 23-yard line this time. Did the Beavers score on this second chance? They did not. Jordan Choukair missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt wide right.

In the second quarter, Oregon State advanced into missed-field goal range again after a short USC punt. USC’s defenses was backed up inside its own 10-yard line, then forgot to cover Tuli Wily-Matagi. It didn’t matter. Quarterback Darell Garretson’s pass was low, and the tight end dropped it. Oregon State settled for a field goal. This one, from 33 yards, was good.

Oregon State got inside the red zone again on the next possession. The Beavers went for it on fourth and two, but USC stuffed them.

In the third quarter, little changed. The Beavers advanced inside the 10-yard line again, then fumbled an exchange. Christian Rector fell on it.

Not to be outdone, Darnold, too, fumbled on the next drive. It squirted 21 yards, to the edge of the goal line, before left tackle Toa Lobendahn scooped it inches away from a safety.

Darnold rebounded from the roughest outing of his career to put up a typical stat line: 23-of-35 passing for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He connected on the long attempts that USC had failed to convert in its previous two games. But he also had another pass intercepted and lost a fumble.

Running back Ronald Jones II rushed just 12 times but ran for 79 yards, including a touchdown after Jack Jones’ early interception. Jones has now scored a touchdown in the last 12 games he has played.

By the fourth quarter, there was not much to do but run out the clock. USC removed Darnold for backup Matt Fink. He promptly ran 51 yards for his first touchdown.

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Oregon State cuts USC’s lead to 28-10

Oregon State, at long last, converted a USC mistake into a touchdown.

After a Sam Darnold fumble backed USC up to its own one-yard line, the Beavers used a good punt return and a diving, 38-yard reception by Seth Collins to set up a six-yard Artavis Pierce touchdown run.

USC still leads, 28-10, with 14:11 left in the game.

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USC adds to its lead, now up 28-3

Tight end Josh Falo’s first career reception is a touchdown.

USC opened the second half with a defensive stop, then marched 91 yards in nine plays, capped by Sam Darnold’s 30-yard pass to Falo.

USC leads 28-3 with 8:57 left in the third quarter.

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Roughing the punter leads to seven more USC points

USC decided to punt on fourth and six from Oregon State’s 44-yard line. It worked out.

A roughing the punter penalty gave USC the ball back, and the Trojans turned it into seven more points.

Sam Darnold connected with Deontay Burnett on a 16-yard touchdown pass. USC leads 21-3 with 9:58 left in the first half.

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Oregon State manages some points, finally

After failing to convert on two turnovers, Oregon State is on the scoreboard.

The Beavers use a short punt and advanced 38 yards in eight plays for a field goal. On second and goal, quarterback Darell Garretson couldn’t connect with a wide-open Tuli Wily-Matagi.

After missing on his last two attempts, Jordan Choukair made a 33-yard field goal to cut the Beavers’ deficit to 14-3.

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USC scores quickly again and leads 14-0

USC scored again. And did so easily, again.

Cornerback Jack Jones intercepted a pass to give USC the ball at Oregon State’s 32-yard line. A 23-yard completion to Trevon Sidney gave USC first and goal. A play later, Ronald Jones II scored from four yards out on an option pitch.

Jones has now scored a touchdown in the last 12 games in which he has played. USC leads 14-0 with 8:49 remaining in the first quarter.

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USC makes it look easy and takes a 7-0 lead

USC had very little trouble moving the ball on its first possession.Sam Darnold lofted a 37-yard strike to a wide-open Tyler Vaughns for the first score of the game.

USC went 78 yards in eight plays. Ronald Jones had 24 yards on four rushes. Vaughns caught all three of Darnold’s passes for 50 yards.

USC leads 7-0 with 11:29 left in the first quarter.

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Warmups begin with less than an hour to kickoff

There’s an hour left before USC kicks off against Oregon State, and the Beavers have just taken the field to begin warmups. The public address system played the theme from “Leave It to Beaver” as they walked on.

USC had issues with warmups a week ago. Two USC players, receiver Jalen Greene and linebacker Jordan Iosefa, collided while warming up. Both remain in concussion protocol.

Other USC injuries include: right tackle Chuma Edoga (ankle sprain), right guard Viane Talamaivao (pectoral tear), tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip flexor injury), Stephen Carr (foot injury) and linebacker Porter Gustin (fractured toe and biceps tear).

The status of defensive end Rasheem Green is unclear.

Left tackle Toa Lobendahn (skin infection) and receiver Steven Mitchell Jr. (groin injury) are both expected to return.

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USC will start with the ball

USC will receive the kickoff to start the game.

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USC vs. Oregon State: How they match up

Oregon State running back Thomas Tyner (4) celebrates with a teammate after making a play against Washington on Sept. 30.
Oregon State running back Thomas Tyner (4) celebrates with a teammate after making a play against Washington on Sept. 30.
(Timothy Gonzelez / Associated Press)

No. 14 USC (4-1, 2-1 in the Pac-12) vs. Oregon State (1-4, 0-2)

Saturday, 1 p.m., Coliseum. TV: Pac-12 Networks. Radio: 710

Marquee matchup

USC’s passing game vs. Oregon State’s secondary: Last week, the Trojans endured their worst passing game in quarterback Sam Darnold’s time as a starter. He completed just 15 attempts for 164 yards, with one interception and no touchdowns. No tight ends or running backs had a reception. Now, USC returns injured starter Steven Mitchell Jr. at receiver and Oregon State is without two starting cornerbacks. If the passing game doesn’t put up big numbers in this one, when will it?

Getting offensive

USC (459.0 ypg/35.0 ppg): USC’s offense has been afflicted with issues in short-yardage situations, problems passing the ball and play calling that has at times been ineffective. The result: USC has had one great offensive game this season, against Stanford, but otherwise production has declined.

Oregon State (321.6 ypg/21.2 ppg): Oregon State is last in the Pac-12 Conference in yardage and scoring. It will probably be without two of its best players. Quarterback Jake Luton has a spine fracture, and there is no timetable for his return. Darell Garretson started against Washington last week and completed just 11 of 22 passes for 74 yards. Running back Ryan Nall hasn’t had the breakout season many expected. He has 341 yards in five games, and he is doubtful for Saturday’s game with an ankle sprain. If he can’t go, he’ll be replaced by Artavis Pierce (137 yards this season) and Thomas Tyner (72 yards).

Getting defensive

USC (388.6 ypg/25.8 ppg): USC gave up conversions on eight of 18 third downs against Washington State, including five of eight from 10 yards or longer. USC’s pass rush has been a bright spot, with 13 sacks in the last three games. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu has forced or recovered a turnover on the opponent’s goal line in consecutive games.

Oregon State (490.2 ypg/46.4 ppg): Cornerbacks Dwayne Williams and Xavier Crawford are both out. The Beavers have just six sacks and seven forced turnovers in five games. The team leader in tackles for loss is linebacker Manase Hungalu. He has just 3.5. Oregon State ranks 128th out of 130 teams in scoring defense.

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Frustration appears as USC searches for improvement near the midway point of the season

Washington State's Jamal Morrow (25) carries the ball against USC's Aiene Harris (27) in the second half on Sept. 29. Washington State defeated USC 30-27.
Washington State’s Jamal Morrow (25) carries the ball against USC’s Aiene Harris (27) in the second half on Sept. 29. Washington State defeated USC 30-27.
(William Mancebo / Getty Images)

I thought defensively that we’ve improved, especially with our younger kids. Special teams have probably been the biggest bump up.

— USC coach Clay Helton

Stress wore on the faces and in the voices of USC team members this week as they approached the midway point of the season.

Clay Helton pronounced with a rare edge Tuesday that, “There’s a lot of things to correct. I’m not gonna BS you.” That is about as as profane as USC’s mild-mannered coach gets publicly.

Offensive coordinator Tee Martin mounted a vigorous, and sometimes exasperated, defense of his offense and his play calling. “News flash,” he said at one point this week. “We lost a lot of really good players that have gone off to the NFL right now.”

Multiple players cried in the locker room last Friday after a loss to Washington State, USC’s first loss in more than a year.

USC (4-1, 2-1 in the Pac-12 Conference) has responded to that loss differently than even a year ago, when the Trojans began 1-3. Partially, the expectations USC carries — it began the season a playoff favorite, the Pac-12 front-runner and ranked in the top five — have added tension. Helton has no easy maneuver that can cure all of USC’s problems, as he had last season in quarterback Sam Darnold. And, USC’s lack of a bye week has left the team battered by injury and dizzied by a month with no time to take a breath.

The first five games whooshed by with little time for reflection. USC escaped with precarious victories in each of its first four games before losing at Washington State.

The Trojans never had an easy game. Most troubling, they never showed consistent signs of progress on offense.

Saturday’s game against Oregon State should provide an opportunity for both. Oregon State (1-4, 0-2) has been outscored by an average of 25.2 points a game this season. The Beavers’ only win was by three points over Portland State, an FCS team.

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