Another close one, another loss for USC as Trojans fall to Washington 26-21

USC falls to 4-5

USC can’t get it done

A fourth-down pass from Miller Moss falls incomplete and Washington wins it 26-21. Another blown fourth-quarter lead for USC, another road loss for the Trojans and another game with a huge third-quarter turnover that changed momentum.

Trojans with a chance

USC gets the stop it needs and the Trojans take over at their own 34-yard line with 1:36 remaining down 26-21.

Goal line stand for the Huskies

USC gets a 1st-and-goal at the four-yard line and can’t do anything with it. A run, an incomplete pass and two more runs net zero yards and the Huskies take over at their own four-yard line with 5:04 left in the game and a 26-21 lead.

Washington goes back ahead

USC gets a stop that would have created a third-and-five inside the 10-yard line but Greedy Vance is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when he rips off a Washington player’s helmet and throws it out of bounds. The Huskies get a free first down and wide receiver Keith Reynolds runs it in from four yards out.

The Trojans get a stop on the two-point conversion attempt and trail 26-21 with 13:48 remaining in the game.

Tight one heading into the fourth

USC will take a 21-20 lead into the fourth quarter but Washington has the ball and is driving with a first-and-10 at the Trojans’ 28-yard line.

Momentum killer from Moss

Miller Moss has thrown some momentum-killing interceptions this season and he just had another one. It’s his third pick of the game and sets the Huskies up at the Trojans’ 39-yard line.

Another stop for USC

The USC defense gets its third stop in a row to open the second half. Trojans will take over at their own 40-yard line. USC has a chance to open up a game that has completely flipped from the first half to the second.

Trojans come all the way back

The phenomenal start to the second half continues as Moss hits Zachariah Branch for a huge gain and then finds Kyle Ford on a short throw and Ford takes it the rest of the way for a 9-yard score. USC has a 21-20 lead with 5:07 left in the third quarter.

USC defenses rises up again

The Trojans bend but don’t break as Washington sets up with a first down at the USC 33-yard line but USC rises up and gets a fourth-down stop. USC takes over at its own 30-yard line trailing 20-14 but suddenly with momentum.

Boom

The USC offense wakes up coming out of halftime and the Trojans march 89 yards in 9 plays, capping it off with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Makai Lemon on a 4th-and-9. USC gets what it needed on both sides of the ball to open the half and the Washington lead is 20-14 with 9:11 remaining in the third quarter.

USC defense shows up

The Trojans force a punt on the opening drive of the second half and take over at their own 10-yard line after the punt. Washington fans are very late getting back to their seats after halftime and the crowd noise has died down considerably in the rain. USC needs this drive looking at a 20-7 deficit.

Halftime stats

Score – USC 7, Washington 20
Total yards – USC 161, Washington 221
Rushing yards – USC 22, Washington 59
Passing yards – USC 139, Washington 162
Turnovers – USC 2, Washington 0
Yards per play – USC 4.2, Washington 6.1
Third downs – USC 3-for-7, Washington 4-for-8

Miller Moss – 18-of-29 (62%) for 139 yards and two interceptions
Woody Marks – 8 carries for 17 yards and one touchdown
Ja’Kobi Lane – 3 receptions for 47 yards

Moss intercepted again

Miller Moss throws his second interception of the first half on a hail mary attempt. USC will head into the locker room facing a 20-7 deficit.

UW stretches the lead before halftime

Washington kicker Grady Gross connects on a 45-yard attempt with just 35 seconds left before halftime and the Huskies push their lead to 20-7.

Akili Arnold shaken up

USC safety Akili Arnold goes down while making a tackle and has to be helped off the field. The Trojans are down both starting safeties until he can make his way back in.

Too easy for Washington

The Huskies get a 50-yard kickoff return and Coleman goes in for his second score four plays later. It’s 17-7 Washington with 8:11 remaining in the half.

Trojans on the board

USC gets a big-time third-down completion from Miller Moss to Zachariah Branch to keep a drive alive and Woody Marks runs it for a one-yard touchdown. The Trojans badly needed that drive and cut the Washington lead to 10-7 with 10:02 remaining in the second quarter.

Huskies cash in

Washington running back Jonah Coleman goes 19 yards into the endzone for the first touchdown of the day. It’s 10-0 Huskies with 21 seconds left in the first quarter and it feels like the Trojans are in trouble if they can’t answer right now.

USC with another empty drive

The Trojans have started three drives at their 40-yard line or better and have zero points. USC just went 25 yards in six plays and came up empty again when a 52-yard field goal attempt by Michael Lantz hit the crossbar. Washington will take over at its own 35-yard line with 4:36 remaining in the first quarter leading 3-0.

Washington gets on the board

The Huskies turn the interception into a field goal but it’s more bad red zone offense for Washington. The Huskies had 1st and 10 at the USC 19-yard line but went backward and settled for a 39-yard field goal. It’s 3-0 Washington with 6:44 remaining in the first quarter.

Trojans turn it over

Miller Moss throws it a little out in front of Kyle Ford who can’t bring it in and tips it to Washington linebacker Carson Bruener for a huge turnover. Washington is driving after the Trojans come up with zero points on their first two possessions.

Getting Greedy

USC nickel Greedy Vance Jr. makes the first big defensive play for the Trojans as he makes a third-down stop just short of the line to gain. The Trojans force a Washington three and out and the USC offense sets up again in great field position following a bad Husky punt that goes out of bounds at the 36-yard line.

Trojans can’t take advantage of big return

USC gets a 49-yard return from Makai Lemon to open the game but can’t do anything with great field possession. The Trojans go three and out and Washington takes over at its own 6-yard line following a good punt by Eddie Czaplicki.

USC wins opening coin toss

The Trojans won the opening toss and have elected to receive. A good crowd has filled in for Washington homecoming and we’re set to go.

Trojans warming up

Cornerback Jaylin Smith and nickel Greedy Vance Jr. are both in uniform and warming up with the defensive backs. No sign of Jacobe Covington or Kamari Ramsey still. Ramsey would have been the big piece to get back against Washington, but if Smith and Vance are ready to go, that’s big for the USC secondary.

USC Game Captains Announced

USC has announced its game captains for Washington. Quarterback Miller Moss returns to a captain spot after two weeks of not being a game captain. He’s joined by defensive lineman Devan Thompkins, linebacker Mason Cobb and offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon.

Jaylin Smith warming up

USC starting cornerback Jaylin Smith is going through early stretching and warmups. He would be a big piece to get back on the field after he missed last week’s game due to injury. It’ll be worth watching to see how much he can play in this one after he was listed as questionable. But the signs during early warmups are positive for the Trojans.

USC – Washington pregame injury news

The Big Ten availability report is out and five USC Trojans are listed as “questionable,” including four starting defensive backs.

WeAreSC reading

* WeAreSC score predictions
* Five questions for the USC Trojans against Washington
* Keys to the Game: How USC beats Washington this weekend
* Behind Enemy Lines: A Washington preview of Trojans – Huskies