USC’s Cody Kessler shakes off interception, keeps putting up big numbers

Cody Kessler’s first pass against Arizona State produced a 52-yard gain. His second moved USC closer to the end zone.

A Sun Devils safety intercepted Kessler’s next pass near the goal line.

Kessler said he reacted to the interception — his first of the season — the same way he reacts to completions or incomplete passes.

“It’s just another play,” he said Tuesday. “Just move on from there.”

Kessler, a fifth-year senior, rebounded from the turnover to pass for five touchdowns in the Trojans’ 42-14 victory, a win that improved their record to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in Pac-12 Conference play.

USC next plays Washington on Oct. 8 at the Coliseum.

Kessler entered this season coming off a record-setting 2014 performance. He passed for 39 touchdowns, with five interceptions, putting him in the 2015 Heisman Trophy discussion during the off-season.

That buzz quieted after the first two games and was gone after the Trojans’ loss to Stanford.

But after four games, Kessler is on pace to better his 2014 statistics.

He has passed for 15 touchdowns, with the lone interception. Through four games last season, Kessler had passed for 10 touchdowns. He did not have a pass intercepted until the sixth game, against Arizona.

Kessler said he and receiver Steven Mitchell Jr. “were not on the same page” on the play that resulted in the interception.

The quarterback said he learned to shake off interceptions at Bakersfield Centennial High, where he was coached by Bryan Nixon.

“He just told me, ‘Next play. Next play. You’re only as good as your next play. You can’t let that affect you the whole game,’ ‘’ Kessler said. “It’s the same thing with anything, even if you throw a touchdown or a pick. It’s the next play.”

Kessler converted several key third-down passes against Arizona State, including one to tailback Justin Davis after avoiding two defenders in the backfield. He also scrambled for a 21-yard gain on another third down.

“The play broke down, they covered it well and they didn’t have anyone accountable for me,” he said. “So I just took off.”

Coach Steve Sarkisian welcomed the sight of Kessler using his legs to make plays.

“I’ve said this all along: He’s a better athlete than people probably give him credit for,” Sarkisian said. “He’s worked at it this off-season and it showed the other night. ... When he’s playing athletically like that, it just makes us a lot more difficult to defend.”

Absent from practice

Receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rogers did not attend practice, Smith-Schuster because of “personal reasons” and Rogers because of a hamstring injury, Sarkisian said.

Smith-Schuster, a sophomore, has a team-best 27 catches, six for touchdowns. On Tuesday, he was added to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to college football’s top receiver.

“Hope to have him back” Wednesday, Sarkisian said. “I don’t think it’s serious.”

Rogers, a junior, was injured early against Arizona State. Rogers, who has seven catches, was rehabilitating the injury Tuesday.

“Everybody responds differently,” Sarkisian said. “So it’s going to a take a little time.”

Quick hit

As is custom during weeks without games, players who are redshirting are getting more repetitions during practice. Freshman quarterback Sam Darnold passed for several touchdowns.

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein