USC safety Isaiah Pola-Mao returns for Stanford football game

LOS ANGELES — After a one-week lack owed to wellness and information protocols, USC information and skipper Isaiah Pola-Mao made his play debut against Stanford connected Saturday.

Pola-Mao tested affirmative for COVID-19 past Wednesday earlier the season-opening triumph implicit San Jose State, starring existent freshman Calen Bullock to commencement successful his place.

But Pola-Mao was backmost connected the starting defence successful Bullock’s spot astatine escaped safety.

He wasn’t the lone Trojan returning from injury. Defensive extremity Nick Figueroa was backmost against the Cardinal aft missing the 2nd fractional of the San Jose State triumph and made an aboriginal interaction with a tackle for nonaccomplishment connected the archetypal thrust of the game.

Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. was backmost aft missing past week’s crippled owed to wellness and information protocols. He caught 2 passes for 9 yards connected USC’s opening thrust and served arsenic USC’s instrumentality antheral successful the punt game.

TCU moving backmost transportation Darwin Barlow got his archetypal snaps arsenic a Trojan successful the archetypal 4th aft missing the opener with a hamstring injury.

PRE-GAME HONORS

Prior to the game, USC held a ceremonial to grant the 20th day of September 11. Veterans, progressive work members and archetypal responders unfurled American flags successful some extremity zones. A subordinate of the Spirit of Troy played ‘Taps’ to grant those who mislaid their lives successful the violent attacks successful 2001, followed by 20 seconds of silence.

USC besides held a pre-game ceremonial to honor erstwhile moving backmost Sam “Bam” Cunningham, who died connected Tuesday astatine the property of 71. After a video commemorating Cunningham’s relation successful the storied USC-Alabama crippled successful 1970, Cunningham’s woman Cine and girl Samahndi were joined connected the tract by his erstwhile teammate Al Cowlings successful a infinitesimal of silence.

USC besides wore stickers connected their helmets with “BAM 39” to grant Cunningham.

UNCONVENTIONAL START

On the opening kickoff of the game, USC kicker Parker Lewis was ejected for targeting. The sophomore led with his caput to tackle Stanford instrumentality antheral Nathaniel Peat. The Cardinal was awarded an other 15 yards connected the instrumentality and Lewis was disqualified from the game, leaving walk-on Alex Stadthaus arsenic USC’s de facto kicker.