LOS ANGELES, CA — USC didn’t play its cleanest football Saturday night, but when the Trojans needed somebody to make a play, their defense finally delivered.
No. 18 USC erased an 11-point second-half deficit and held off Washington 25-21 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, using a defensive touchdown and a final stand inside the red zone to bounce back from last week’s loss to Oregon.
The Trojans improved to 5-1 overall despite trailing 14-10 at halftime and falling behind 21-10 less than two minutes into the third quarter.
“We just couldn’t get out of our own way in the first half,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “I’m proud the guys never wavered, the coaches never wavered, we made the adjustments that were needed.”
Those adjustments showed up quickly.
Jayden Maiava connected with Tanook Hines for a 10-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, cutting Washington’s lead to 21-16. The USC defense followed with the biggest play of the night.
Eric Newby got to Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr., forcing a fumble that Jahkeem Stewart recovered and returned 48 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, USC had its first lead since the second quarter at 22-21.
For the first time this season, defensive coordinator Gary Patterson called the game from the coaches’ booth instead of the sideline, giving him a different view of Washington’s offense and allowing him to get defensive calls in quicker. The move paid dividends as USC held Washington scoreless over the final 26 minutes.
USC added some breathing room when Charlie Chittenden connected on a 39-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, but Washington had one final opportunity.
Williams drove the Huskies deep into USC territory in the final minutes before the Trojans stiffened. On the final sequence, Kameryn Crawford sacked Williams before a fourth-down pass intended for Dezmen Roebuck fell incomplete with 45 seconds remaining.
“We knew at the end of the day it was going to come down to us,” Stewart said. “We just had to make a play.”
Maiava finished with 245 yards passing and a touchdown, while King Miller led USC with 81 rushing yards. Hines caught five passes for 51 yards and a score.
Washington finished with 319 yards but converted just 1 of 12 third downs. USC held the Huskies to 98 yards after Washington’s opening touchdown drive of the second half.
It wasn’t pretty, but after a difficult week, USC needed a response more than style points.
This time, the Trojans found one when it mattered most.
