Washington at USC
I watched this game expecting the Trojans to win, which they did 25-21. But they were trailing late in the third quarter and only took a 22-21 lead because of a fumble returned for TD. The only points they put on the board in the final quarter was a 39 yard field goal by their Sophomore PK Caden Chittenden to give us the final score. But without the fumble return those three points wouldn’t have been enough. I was left wondering if my Huskies are better than I thought they were or the Trojan’s worse. Had USC lost this one I think they would have been dropped from the Top-25. The Trojans have two tough back-to-back games on the road and then host No. 5 Ohio State before hitting the road to take on No. 6 Indiana. First they’ll have to face Penn State at Beaver Stadium in their annual White Out game. I know there’s at least one of you very familiar with it but for those who aren’t, last year Jake Mozarsky explained Penn State’s White Out games in an article for The Sporting News and wrote; “
“In college football, some traditions are seen, but few are felt so viscerally as the Penn State White Out. For one night each season, more than 110,000 souls at Beaver Stadium become a single, roaring force of nature. It’s a sensory assault — a storm of white light and sound that pulses with the rhythm of a hundred thousand hearts beating as one. It doesn’t just intimidate; it consumes, wrapping itself around the opposition in an embrace of pure fanatical energy . . . the White Out has evolved into a pilgrimage for fans and a psychological weapon for the team. It is a promise and a threat, a silent agreement among the faithful to raise the decibel level and lower the expectations of any team brave enough to step into the eye of the storm . . . For any team that has to play in this legendary atmosphere, the White Out is more than a game; it is a test of a team’s will. The opponent will not only have to face a [motivated] Penn State team but also the crushing weight of an entire fan base.”
After that it’s a 4-1 Wisconsin team in Madison that demolished Michigan State last Saturday and who edged out Penn State—No. 13 at the time—at Beaver stadium in Week-4. Then back home to take on No. 5 Ohio State before hitting the road again to No. 6 Indiana. Talk about pressure for USC and Lincoln Riley specifically. He can survive losing the White Out game but were he to lose in Madison they might leave him on the tarmac at the airport like they did Lane Kiffin after that loss to Arizona State back in September of 2013.
Holding Washington to a three-and-out to start the game, USC’s Sophomore Place Kicker Caden Chittendon was not only responsible for their last points but sitting 4th and 6 at the Husky 9 yard line kicked a 26 yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead their first possession of the game. From there it was a back-and-forth affair with Washington taking a 7-3 lead at the end of the quarter on a 5 yard TD pass from Sophomore WR Dezmen Roebuck to Sophomore TE Baron Naone. The Trojans Senior QB Jayden Maiava was intercepted six plays into their opening drive of the second quarter but Washington was held to a three-and-out followed by a USC TD on an 8 yard TD run by Senior RB Waymond Jordan to go up 10-7. The Huskies were held to another three-and-out but the Trojans had to punt as well six plays later. Eight plays and 80 yards later Washington would retake the lead, 14-10, on a short TD run by Senior TE Kade Eldridge which would end the scoring for the half.
Having deferred, USC got the ball to start the 3rd Qtr but were held to a three-and-out followed by a Husky touchdown just two plays later on back-to-back passes—one for 18 yards from Junior QB Demon Williams to Sophomore TE Baron Naone and the other a 42 yard TD pass from Williams to Junior TE Decker DeGraaf to stretch their lead to 21-10. The Trojans would come back down the field on a long 7 minute drive and find the end zone on a 10 yard TD pass from Maiava to Sophomore WR Tanook Hines. A two-point conversion failed leaving the score at 21-16. But just five plays into Washington’s next possession USC’s Sophomore DT Jahkeem Stewart would return a Husky fumble 48 yards to the house to retake the lead 22-21 after failing another two-point conversion attempt. Forcing Washington to punt on their next possession, USC would increase their lead by three on that 39 yard field goal by Chittenden. Washington made it all the way down inside the USC red zone a couple of possessions later but failed to convert a 4th and 10 at the Trojan 18 yard line wth 40 seconds left in the game to end it.
For USC, Senior QB Jayden Maiava connected on 21-of-34 for 245 yards, 1 TD, and 1 interception. Sophomore RB King Miller and Senior Waymond Jordan combined for 117 rushing yards on 29 attempts with 1 TD by Jordan. For Washington, Junior QB Demond Williams Jr. was 15-of-36 for 198 yards and 1 TD while also rushing 13 times for 26 yards. On the ground, Freshman RB Brian Bonner Jr. led the way picking up 89 of the team’s 116 yards on 19 carries with the only TD the result of a 1 yard run by Senior TE Kade Eldridge. USC led in first downs, 21-15; total yards of offense, 360-319; had possession of the ball 10 minutes longer and made both of their fourth down conversion attempts. Their third down conversion percentage was just 36% but Washington’s was horrendous—just 8% of the time but did make three of four 4th down attempts. Washington hosts Iowa on a short week this coming Friday at 6:00pm.