USC news: Desman Stephens suspended for hit on Dante Moore, antics afterward
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USC football took its first loss of the season on Saturday night against Oregon, but the game and the result were overshadowed by the brutal injury suffered by Oregon star quarterback Dante Moore. Moore was hit hard in the head by USC linebacker Desman Stephens and suffered a scary concussion. He stayed down on the field for an extended period of time before leaving in an ambulance.
Stephens was rightfully thrown out of the game for targeting, but it was his antics after that play that disturbed many fans. He was seen running around the field celebrating, smiling, laughing and high-fiving his teammates.
Now, he is paying the price for his classless reaction to a truly scary injury. USC has suspended him for one game, and he will not play in Week 5 against Washington as a result, per Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports.
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USC released a statement after the decision to suspend Stephens.
“Desman’s actions in last night’s game are unacceptable and are not reflective of USC Football nor of his personal character,” the program said, via Auerbach. “He understands his mistake, accepts the consequences of his actions and will learn from this. The entire Trojan Family wishes Dante a full recovery, and we send our best regards to him and his family.”
That will make over six quarters of football that Stephens will miss due to the hit and his actions afterward.
Even with Moore out of the game and Dylan Raiola filling in for him, Oregon’s offense continued to click in the second half on Saturday in Los Angeles. Even after USC scored 10 unanswered points to tie the game at 27 in the fourth quarter, the Ducks responded with back-to-back touchdowns to get a 41-27 win in a game it desperately needed.
Now, USC is in must-win mode heading into Week 5, as it can likely only afford one more loss and still has Ohio State and Indiana on the schedule. Lincoln Riley and company will haver to do it without Stephens when Washington comes to town on Oct. 3.
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