USC has now lost five of their last seven games but after a slow start in this one it looked as though they were going to get it done. After going up 21-20 near the end of the 3rd Qtr they forced the Huskies to punt on their next possession after a five play drive that had them 4th and 18 at their own 32 yard line. After a 20 yard return of the punt the Trojans were starting at their own 40 yard line. But on their third play, USC QB Miller Moss would be intercepted for a second time in the game by Linebacker Carson Bruener which gave the Huskies the ball back at the USC 39 yard line. Eight plays later Washington would be back in the lead at 26-21 after a Keith Reynolds TD run and failed two-point conversion. With neither team scoring again the rest of the way the second interception by Bruener brought the game full circle as his first interception of Moss on USC’s second possession of the game led to Washington’s 3-0 field goal and initial lead.
This is certainly Monday morning quarterbacking to the nth degree on my part and Lincoln Riley probably made the call based on analytics, something which really pisses the fans off—especially in baseball when the coach pulls a pitcher having a great game only to have the reliever throw up a home run ball. But the Trojans next drive after the interception and TD to fall behind 26-21 takes them all the way down to 1st and goal at the Washington 4 yard line with well over six minutes left. After two runs for a total of three yards and a Miller Moss incompletion they are sitting 4th and goal at the Washington 1 yard line with over five minutes still left. I realize a TD gives them the lead here but with their defense having already stopped Washington drives three times in the second half, a field goal would put them within two points. Anyway, they went for the TD and didn’t make it. After holding Washington once again to a punt—the fourth time in the half—the Trojans get the ball back with less than two minutes left and are able to get all the way down to the Washington 14 yard line. But five points down and sitting 4th and 4 they have no choice but to go for it which they do, but the Miller Moss pass falls incomplete. Had they kicked a field goal on their prior possession they would have been in position to take a one point lead with just 11 seconds left as their field goal kicker is 12-of-13 from inside the 40 over the last two years. Easy to figure out a way to win from your barcalounger.
For the Trojans, Junior QB Miller Moss connected on 30-of-50 for 293 yards spread out multiple times to five different receivers, 2 TD’s—one each to Sophomore WR Makai Lemon and Senior Kyle Ford—and an uncharacteristic 3 interceptions after averaging less than one a game over their first eight games. That said and in spite of the Huskies win/loss record they are the second stingiest pass defense in the country which I’m sure had something to do with those extra interceptions. Senior RB Woody Marks led the way on the ground for USC, carrying the ball 22 times for 123 yards and their only rushing TD. Washington Senior QB Will Rogers was 25-of-39 for 262 yards without an interception but never found the end zone. On the ground, the Huskies rushed 29 times for 113 yards with Junior RB Jonah Coleman leading the way with 104 yards on 23 carries and two of their three TD’s with Freshman WR Keith Reynolds picking up the other one. Their Place Kicker Grady Gross, who struggled earlier in the year, connected on both of his field goal attempts, the longest from 45 yards.
Washington now has five wins with three tough games left against No. 6 Penn State and No. 1 Oregon—both on the road starting with Penn State this next Saturday—and UCLA at home in between to become bowl eligible. USC will need to win two of their last three against Nebraska and No. 10 Notre Dame at home as well as the LA City Championship game in the Rose Bowl against their cross town rival Bruins. Before they get started they’ll have a bye week to straighten a few things out and get ready for the Cornhuskers on Saturday, November 16th.