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Kessler's 3 TDs has USC up 28-0 at halftime

Cody Kessler’s Heisman Trophy campaign is off and running.

The USC quarterback threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, helping USC to a 28-0 lead over Arkansas State in Saturday night’s season opener at the L.A. Coliseum.

The pregame pyrotechnics, which included skydiving Navy Seals showering sparks onto the Coliseum field, were just the beginning of the explosive happenings.

JuJu Smith-Schuster caught a 61-yard touchdown pass on the game’s fourth play from scrimmage and Tre Madden added a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Despite taking five sacks in the first half, Kessler has been the focal point of the Trojans first matchup with Arkansas State thus far.