In a thrilling final six minutes of football, the Washington defense faced two critical fourth-down plays against USC with its backs to the West end zone. It got stops on both, clinching a Washington victory over USC, 26-21. For the first time all season, Washington was outgained by its opponent, yet the defense played a significant role on Saturday night inside Husky Stadium. Three interceptions and the two fourth-down stops paved the way as the Huskies got their fifth win of the season. A significant victory in its hopes for bowl eligibility in year one of the Jedd Fisch tenure.
Thrilling 4th Down Stops Clinch Washington Win Over USC
4th Down Stops
USC began what would become its second-to-last drive of the game with over 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. It proceeded to drive the ball 15 plays, 77 yards, and take over eight minutes off of the clock. The Trojans moved the football down to the Washington four-yard line. It then ran four plays, failing to cross the goal line. On fourth and one from the one-yard line, Woody Marks took the handoff and was met immediately by Khmori House. He shot through the line and blew up the play for a loss of three yards. Washington took over with five minutes remaining.
The Washington offense was able to take the clock down inside two minutes before facing a critical 3rd and short at its 42-yard line. Before the snap, Washington was hit with a 12-men on-the-field penalty for five yards. “That was a coaching error,” Fisch said after the game. “A miscommunication on the sideline… that’s on me.” The offense failed to convert on the 3rd and sixth and was forced to punt.
But the Husky defense was able to overcome it. With no timeouts left, USC gained possession at their 34-yard line. It drove the football 10 plays and 52 yards in just over a minute. Again, Washington forced a fourth down. This time, the game was on the line. On fourth and four, Lance Holtzclaw came off of the bench and made a play. He forced pressure on Moss in the backfield, forcing a coverage sack incompletion. “We put him in on fourth down with fresh legs and a great pass rush skillset,” Fisch said after the game. “He just got after the quarterback. What a way to end a game.” Washington took over on downs and went into victory formation.
Early Defensive Stops
The first three drives of the game began with a great starting field position for USC. On those three drives, it averaged starting at the plus 49-yard line. But Washington’s defense was able to keep the Trojan offense off of the scoreboard on all three. Makai Lemon opened the game with a 50-yard kickoff return to midfield. Washington’s special teams coverage has been an issue this season. That became the eighth return for more than 30 yards on the year. But the Husky defense forced a three-and-out.
Washington’s ensuing drive would also go three and out, and the Huskies punted from deep inside their own territory. Special teams issues showed up again as Jack McCallister’s boot went out of bounds for just 27 yards. USC took over at the Husky 37. Again, Steve Belichick’s group was able to get a stop. This time, it came on the first play when Miller Moss’ pass was deflected into the arms of Carson Bruener.
The next USC possession began with a kick return, but Washington went to the pooch kick in an attempt to keep it away from Lemon back deep. The return still went 14 yards to the USC 40-yard line, and again the Trojans looked to be in business. USC went six plays and 25 yards where it attempted a 52-yard field goal. Michael Lantz’s kick bounded off the crossbar, and the Husky defense had another stop.
Trojans’ Third Quarter Spark
But USC came out in the second half with a consistent attack. Lincoln Rilcy’s offense moved the football 89 yards and 70 yards on its first two drives of the third quarter. Both drives finished with passing touchdowns. It was a balanced attack with seven runs and six passes. Woody Marks carried it 46 yards on the first drive, including three for 13-plus yards. Staying aggressive, USC kept its offense on the field for 4th and 9 at the Washington 37-yard line. Moss fired the football to Lemon who had a step on Ephesians Prysock. Vincent Holmes was late on safety help, and Lemon caught it on the run for a touchdown. This cut the Washington lead to just six points.
“They ran the ball pretty well,” Fisch said after the victory. “I think they got patient with the run game, they were willing to call runs on third down.” The Trojan offense began to find its pace in the third quarter, and it continued into their ensuing drive.
The Trojans took over on downs following Washington’s fourth down attempt at the USC 30. This time, it only took them four plays to travel 70 yards into the end zone. Zachariah Branch was the catalyst this time, taking a reception 42 yards into the Husky red zone. Two plays later, Moss found Kyle Ford for a nine-yard score. Just like that, Washington was down one point in the third quarter.
Defensive Adjustment
“We came out of halftime juiced up, we just had to settle down and do our job,” Kamren Fabiculanan said after the game. The Trojans averaged 12.2 yards per play on its first two drives of the second half. The rain had begun to let up, and all of a sudden it was a very tight football game.
But three plays into USC’s third drive of the second half, Moss’ throw landed in the hands of Bruener for his second pick of the day. With its team down by one point at the time, the Washington crowd erupted as Bruener gave the Huskies an ideal field position with the third quarter winding down.
“I think just settling down, starting where we left off,” Fabiculanan said of the defense’s adjustments. Eight plays and 39 yards later, Keith Reynolds took a jet sweep handoff for four yards to give Washington a 26-21 lead. That would turn out to be the game-winning score.
Bruener had himself a day at linebacker. He finished with 12 tackles and two interceptions. Both of his picks lead to points for the Husky offense, which scored nine points off of turnovers. “That’s my guy,” Fabiculanan said after the game. “We’re in competition for whoever gets more picks this season. He’s beating me right now.” The duo each had one pick entering Saturday’s game, but Bruener is now in the lead with three this season. Fabiculanan had an interception at the end of the half, giving the Huskies three against USC. The safety also finished with five tackles.
