Sports
USC suspends Desman Stephens one game after late hit
The Trojans’ starting linebacker will miss the Washington game after his targeting ejection and reaction to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore’s injury.
USC suspended starting linebacker Desman Stephens for one game on Sunday after his late hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and his reaction while Moore received medical attention, the Associated Press reported through ABC7 Los Angeles on September 27. Stephens will miss the No. 18 Trojans’ home game against Washington next weekend.
What it means locally
Stephens was ejected for targeting during the second quarter of Oregon’s 41–27 victory at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday. USC coach Lincoln Riley said the conduct did not reflect the program or Stephens’ character, and Stephens issued an apology accepting responsibility. Under a one-year trial rule, a player’s first targeting penalty no longer automatically bars him from the next game, so Stephens otherwise would have been eligible against Washington. Oregon coach Dan Lanning said Saturday night that Moore had feeling in all of his extremities; Oregon had not issued a public status update when the suspension report was published. The accompanying photograph shows a separate USC home football game in 2006 and is not an image of Stephens, Moore or Saturday’s game.
Full report and further details: Read original report →