GAME RECAP: No. 18 USC Fights Back Past Washington, 25-21, on Homecoming

By Justin Rosette

LOS ANGELES, CA — USC came into Saturday’s Homecoming matchup against Washington looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Oregon last week. The game was not pretty. The Trojans still proved they have fight left, rallying for a 25-21 win at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

This one came down to the wire. Washington drove from its own 5 to the USC 12, converting two fourth downs and a third-and-11 along the way, and USC stopped it. Kameryn Crawford sacked Demond Williams Jr. on third down, and Williams’ fourth-down throw into double coverage in the end zone fell incomplete with 39 seconds left. In a game where the Trojans faced a double-digit deficit, a pile of back-breaking penalties, and a Jayden Maiava interception, the offense did just enough. The defense stamped it.

Coach Lincoln Riley was adamant about his team’s lockdown second half.

“Excited defensively, at some of the steps we took, and some of the clutch plays we made, and just kept answering the bell all night,” Riley said.

A game many expected to be a shootout opened as a gritty stalemate. USC set the tone on Washington’s first series, forcing a three-and-out and putting pressure on the Huskies right away. Maiava went to Tanook Hines early, King Miller broke one for 35, and the Trojans reached the red zone — then stalled. Caden Chittenden’s 26-yard field goal was all they got from a nine-play, 75-yard drive.

Both defenses buckled down. Washington tried to lean on Brian Bonner Jr. on the ground, and neither offense was finding much easy yardage. The Huskies then got risky on fourth-and-7 from the USC 38. Williams ran for the sticks, a penalty helped, and Washington got creative. Wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck threw a five-yard score to Baron Naone, the first of several trick looks on the night. Washington led 7-3 after one.

The yardage said something else. USC outgained the Huskies 108-45 in the first quarter and still trailed.

The second quarter stayed in that grind. Maiava, under pressure, forced a throw and was picked off. He bounced back with a 39-yard completion to Zacharyus Williams, and USC drove it down and punched in an eight-yard run by Waymond Jordan to retake the lead, 10-7. Washington could not stop the Trojan run game, whether it was Miller, Jordan, or Shahn Alston.

Then the flags took over. A 37-yard touchdown to Dixon-Wyatt was called back for an illegal formation. Washington got a sack out of the mess and the ball back with 5:15 left in the half. At that point Williams had eight passing yards on 2-of-8, and the Huskies’ 41 rushing yards were carrying them. A USC sack turned into a first down after a roughing-the-passer penalty. Washington hit another trick play. An unsportsmanlike-conduct flag on the next USC drive turned fourth-and-1 into fourth-and-16. A facemask helped the Huskies into the red zone, and a direct snap to 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end Kade Eldridge finished an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard score. Washington led 14-10 at the break.

If you had said before kickoff that Williams would have only 39 passing yards in the first half, there is no world in which anyone would have had Washington leading. That is what happened. He completed four passes. Creative play-calling and an aggressive run game put the Huskies in front. USC was held back by penalties and unfinished drives, and was outgaining Washington by 89 yards anyway.

Washington opened the second half the same way: a flea-flicker, the third trick pass of the day, then a short throw that USC tackled poorly. Decker DeGraaf turned it into a 42-yard touchdown, and the Huskies led 21-10 less than a minute into the third. That was the double-digit hole.

USC fought back. Maiava hit Zacharyus Williams for 22 on third down, the Trojans got inside the Washington 34, and they ran it five straight times rather than risk another turnover. Hines then mossed a defender for a 10-yard score to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive. The two-point try failed. USC trailed 21-16.

Williams tried to force the next throw. Elijah Newby beat the pocket, stripped him, and Jahkeem Stewart — the 295-pound defensive tackle — recovered and rumbled 48 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

The two-point attempt failed again. USC led 22-21, and the defense looked like it had its edge back.

After the game, Stewart had jokes while recapping his highlight score.

“I made the quarterback step up, thanks to them for getting the sack, then I picked the ball up and ran 23 MPH,” Stewart said.

The Trojans forced a punt, then Alex Graham sacked Williams on third down the next time Washington had it. USC answered with a 16-play, 77-yard march and Chittenden’s 39-yard field goal. That made it 25-21 with 9:36 left, and it held.

It was USC’s first win over Washington since 2016. The Trojans are 5-1 and 2-1 in the Big Ten. The Huskies fall to 3-2 and 0-2.

Maiava finished 21-of-34 for 245 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Miller carried 18 times for 81 yards. Jordan added 11 carries for 36 and the score. Hines had five catches for 51 yards and the touchdown. Zacharyus Williams had four for 78. USC finished with 360 total yards, 21 first downs, a 5-of-14 mark on third down, and 34:58 of possession. The Trojans were flagged nine times for 84 yards. Trent Mosley did not play.

Williams was 15-of-26 for 198 yards and a score, with 26 yards on 13 rushes. Bonner Jr. led Washington with 89 yards on 19 carries. Chris Lawson had five catches for 82. Washington managed 319 total yards and was 1-of-12 on third down. USC sacked Williams and the Huskies five times — Newby, Ta’Mere Robinson, Luke Wafle, Alex Graham, and Crawford — and Stewart’s return was the play that flipped the night.

Riley realized how big this game was, and how it could be a microcosm of things to come for his young squad.

“I’ve been lucky to have so many awesome moments in my career, and a big part of my motivation is I want these guys to feel what I’ve been able to feel, and this game can provide that.”

Riley also admitted that the Trojans have a lot to clean up, which they’ll look to do in the days leading up to their showdown at Penn State next week.