USC football: Max Wittek, Cody Kessler make it tough for Lane Kiffin

Cody Kessler passed for two touchdowns and threw two passes for interceptions, and Max Wittek passed for a touchdown and led three drives that resulted in field goals Wednesday in USC’s mock game at the Coliseum.

Whether one or the other did enough for Coach Lane Kiffin to announce who will start at quarterback against Hawaii in a week remains to be seen.

Wittek and Kessler alternated series against a scout-team defense in a 121-play game that, by design, did not include tackling.

Kessler started and had two passes intercepted in the first half, when the ball bounced off receiver Marqise Lee. Kessler connected with receiver Nelson Agholor on scoring plays of 31 and 56 yards in the second half. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 218 yards.

Wittek led first-half drives that ended with Andre Heidari field goals of 21, 42 and 41 yards. He finished 15 of 20 for 231 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown pass to Agholor.

Agholor finished with nine receptions for 250 yards.

Lee aggravated a shoulder injury and was sidelined for the latter part of the game. But the junior said he would be fine.

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams had four tackles as the first-team defense dominated the scout-team offense.

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