The Trojans are less than two weeks away from the season opener at Hawaii (Jacob Freedman/Neon Tommy).

After the 68-play run-through started as a defensive showcase, Cody Kessler sparked an offensive outburst with three touchdown passes, while Max Wittek did not record a first down in seven series on the field.

"You've got to take in the variables," head coach Lane Kiffin said. "One guy didn’t really have many opportunities because the defense was performing so well, so we'll see."

Rogers Rocks the Coliseum

Freshman wideout Darreus Rogers continued his outstanding Fall Camp, racking in 10 receptions for 106 yards while making spectacular catches along the way. “(I'm) coming out here to get my chances, and I have to execute,” Rogers said of his eye-catching performance. “When the ball is out there, my job is to go up and catch it.”

He'll be relied upon to go up and catch it early and often it seems, thanks to the rising trust of Kessler. Making every catch that came his way, Rogers shines among the Trojans' wide receiving corp as a physical big-play threat. “My mindset is that the ball is huge,” Rogers said about his physical frame and ability to make plays at the highest point. 

Working against the likes of cornerbacks Kevon Seymour and Torin Harris, Rogers made an outstanding leaping grab over Seymour, snatching the ball around the defender's helmet for the vertical score. Admitting his own room for improvement, Rogers wants to work on learning coverage and getting to the line faster to make plays.

A Tale of Two Cities Under Center

Kessler entered with the second string and dissected the defense to near perfection in leading the Trojans on three touchdown drives. “There's no deadline for a decision,” Kiffin said after the scrimmage. “I’d prefer to have starter today, but we have to make the right decision.”

Wittek took the field with the first-team offense, but that was about the only positive from his two-for-seven passing performance. The quarterback battle has swung back and forth for seemingly months now, but after playing with the second string for each of the past three days, Kessler took to the challenge of leading his offense with short, efficient passes to his greatest weapons. After not recording a first down in the first scrimmage, Max Browne entered the contest in the final moments, replacing Max Wittek and leading the Trojans for a touchdown.

"I think this is going to be an ongoing competition no matter what," Wittek said. "That's just the way it is here. We're looking forward to competing against each other every day." While the stats certainly favor Kessler, it still needs to be taken into account that Wittek went up against the Trojans free-blitzing and seemingly-dominant first-team defense.

Buck Allen And Ty Isaac Pound the Rock:

The Trojans' bevy of running backs continues to emerge by contributing with backs against the wall. Tre Madden started the game at tailback for USC, but only played in one series while Silas Redd and D.J. Morgan remain sidelined with minor injuries.

Heavy-hearted rusher Buck Allen took the first-team snaps at running back to continue his outstanding Fall Camp in the backfield, combining powerful runs with a good amount of awareness on stretch plays to the outside.

After dealing with nagging injuries, freshman Ty Isaac is coming back into the picture and took reps with the second-team offense. In the first dose of full-contact action this fall, Isaac delivered crushing blows and powerful runs with his 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame all over the field.

The Trojans ran the football to little success against the free-flowing first team defense, though. Still, a solid commitment to the running game was taken by head coach Lane Kiffin with a 31 to 37 run to pass play differential.

Fall Camp Scrimmage Quick Hits:

*PASSING: Kessler 20-28, 231 yards, 3 TD; Wittek 2-7, 15 yards; Browne 2-2, 42 yards, 1 TD. RUSHING: Allen 11-22; Isaac 12-38; Madden 3-6. RECEIVING: Rogers 9-106, 2 TDs; De’Von Flournoy 6-49; Allen 3-51, 1 TD; Agholor 2-19; Aaron Minor 1-28, 1 TD; George Katrib 1-20; Xavier Grimble 1-12.

*DEFENSE: Gerald Bowman 6 tackles, 1 sack; Quinton Powell 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss; Su’a Cravens 5 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFL; Hayes Pullard 4 tackles. 

*Morgan Breslin did not participate with defense during the Fall Camp scrimmage while resting an injury, while Dion Bailey walked in crutches around Coliseum field. Marqise Lee engaged in a “intensive workout session” before the scrimmage according to Kiffin, but did not participate in team drills.

*Hayes Pullard led the Trojans out of the tunnel for the USC Fall Scrimmage, repeating his performance from the Spring Game. This after leading the Trojans' chants in practice on Thursday.

*Aaron Minor added himself to the list of surprising contributors, racking in a 28-yard touchdown reception from Max Browne. The walk-on wideout made the play by reaching around the defender, freshman Chris Hawkins, and using his body to hold possession of the score.

Reach Staff Reporter Evan Budrovich here or follow him on Twitter.