Editor’s note: This is the Sunday April 18 edition of the Troy Story USC sports newsletter from reporter Adam Grosbard. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here.

USC beat USC in its annual spring game on Saturday. USC allowed eight sacks, but USC also recorded eight sacks. USC turned the ball over five times, but USC also forced five turnovers.

Such is the nature of a spring game. But here are some observations and takeaways from the scrimmage, looking at individual performances and position group battles.

1. True freshman Jaxson Dart had himself a really nice game in the battle for backup QB. He had one interception, but went 7-for-13 for 99 yards and a touchdown. The TD was a pass to the corner of the end zone that no one could catch except receiver Michael Jackson, who brought it in with one hand. It was one of two circus catches Jackson made, both courtesy of Dart.
2. Senior QB Mo Hasan also had a good moment finding Bru McCoy for a 25-yard TD pass. But he limped off the field in the first half after a nine-yard scramble and will require an MRI on his knee.
3. The other QB stat lines from Saturday: Kedon Slovis, 8-12, 128 yards, one INT; Miller Moss, 7-12, 34 yards, one INT. Slovis’ interception was a bad one, telegraphing the pass. As soon as it left his hands, it was clear only DB Dorian Hewett had a play on the ball.
4. Everyone’s favorite target on Saturday? Drake London. The junior, finally playing a full off-season of football after leaving the men’s basketball team, is settling into his new spot outside and came away with several impressive catches. The highlight was a high-arcing bomb into coverage from Slovis that somehow London came down with for a 45-yard gain.
5. In the battle for starting running back, Stephen Carr had the best day on Saturday. He rushed eight times for 53 yards and a touchdown and had a catch for 13 yards. He burst through the hole and was shifty in the open field.
6. RB Keaontay Ingram had limited success on the ground, but did catch a short pass from Hasan and take it 49 yards, juking several defenders on the way.
7. RB Vavae Malepeai rushed eight times for 30 yards. He had two carries of 10 yards and scored on fourth-and-goal with a one-yard carry.
8. The offensive lines struggled with two penalties and eight sacks, though one was the product of Moss holding onto the ball too long. But the mixed up offensive fronts could have contributed to the issues up front.
9. WR Gary Bryant Jr. left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury after a pass breakup by Joshua Jackson.
10. Jackson, who converted to corner from wide receiver this spring, also intercepted Dart in the second half to continue his strong camp.
11. The defensive MVP was likely outside linebacker Drake Jackson. It seemed like he was in on every one of his team’s stops in the backfield. In one sequence, he blocked a Slovis pass on first down, tackled Malepeai for a one-yard gain on second and then sacked Slovis on third to force a punt.
12. Sophomore Tuli Tuipulotu was also a disruptive force in the backfield. And if you want to know how strong the defensive end is, on one play he actually pancaked his blocker, tight end Erik Krommenhoek.
13. Corner Chris Steele intercepted a pass from Hasan in the first half, a good sign for his goal of creating more turnovers this season. But he also had a pass interference penalty in the end zone, the only defensive penalty of the day.
14. Isaiah Pola-Mao continued to show why he’s a dangerous pass-rush option at nickel back, with one sack seemingly instantaneously after the snap and a couple more QB pressures.

Editor’s note: Thanks for reading the Troy Story newsletter from reporter Adam Grosbard. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here.

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