Sam Darnold plays like a veteran as No. 20 USC stuns No. 4 Washington, 26-13
Breaking down No. 20 USC’s 26-13 victory over No. 4 Washington and what the win means for the Trojans’ season.
All around him Saturday evening, USC was going mad.
Receiver Keyshawn Young was pulling flips. Athletic Director Lynn Swann was snapping selfies with the school’s president, Max Nikias. Quarterback Sam Darnold was taking a final knee as his teammates were streaming onto the field, celebrating USC’s most monumental win in at least five years.
Amid the revelry, defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast stood alone down the sideline, his expression serious. He had hands on his hips, still clutching the playsheet that he had used to shut down a Heisman Trophy candidate and bludgeon the nation’s No. 4 team, Washington, 26-13, spoiling the Huskies’ perfect season and vaulting USC to its first six-game winning streak since the Pete Carroll era.
All season, the Huskies’ offense had been efficient and mostly unstoppable. They had not failed to score less than 30 points.
They mustered one touchdown against USC.
The Trojans were faster. Washington probed for an edge all evening and was rebuffed time and again. The Trojans were stronger. USC’s defensive line played the game in Washington’s backfield. The Huskies, the Pac-12’s best rushing team, netted only 17 yards.
USC (7-3, 6-2 in the Pac-12) dominated. It outgained Washington, 400-276.
“A wonderful football team that won’t be denied,” Coach Clay Helton said. “That was a full team win.”
Browning was under constant pressure. USC sacked him three times and forced one safety He completed 17 of 36 passes for 259 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Browning and Darnold are arguably the two best quarterbacks in the Pac-12. Browning entered Saturday on pace to set the NCAA record for passer rating. Darnold was behind only in games played. He deserves much of the credit for USC’s turnaround.
The game would hinge on each player’s arm.
“Our goal was to make them one-dimensional,” linebacker Cameron Smith said.
Washington tried to do the same. USC hardly fared better on the ground, averaging 3.1 yards per carry.
“I thought both teams said ‘OK, let’s see your quarterback play,’” Helton said. “Both teams tried to take the run away and see where the quarterback was.”
Each began with an interception before either team had scored a touchdown.
But Darnold has been fearless. He does not rattle easily. He responded to each his mistakes with confidence.
After his first interception, he led USC to an early field goal to even the score.
Then he began carving up Washington’s secondary. He led USC on a long scoring drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Darreus Rogers, to take the lead. Before halftime, he took USC down the field in less than three minutes. USC led 17-6 at halftime. Washington hadn’t trailed by more than three points all season.
After a second interception, an unlucky break when his receiver fell down in the third quarter, he responded with a nine-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, capped by a touch pass over a linebacker to tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe. It put USC ahead 24-13 in the fourth quarter.
“I took the punches as they came,” Darnold said. “Our offense did a great job.”
Darnold completed 23 of 33 for 287 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“To play that game at this age in that atmosphere?” Helton said. “It’s unbelievable.”
The Huskies (9-1, 6-1) were the highest-ranked team USC has defeated on the road since knocking off No. 4 Oregon in 2011.
“We feel like this is our chance to show everyone we can play at this level,” Rogers said.
The win capped a stunning midseason turnaround. A late loss to Utah that dropped the Trojans to 1-3 put their season on the brink of crumbling. Outside the program, pundits began questioning Helton’s job security.
“We just had faith in ourselves,” cornerback Adoree’ Jackson said.
Since that loss, USC has roared through the second half of its schedule, ripping off wins against Arizona State, Colorado and Arizona. It took care of California and Oregon while this game against Washington beckoned.
Now, the dim hopes of a Rose Bowl are glowing more brightly, though USC does not control its own destiny. USC’s formula is straightforward but difficult: one win over UCLA, at least one loss for Colorado, and at least one for Utah.
Early in the season, USC couldn’t limit the first three power-conference teams it faced to less than 400 yards. But during its winning streak, USC has held opponents to at or near season lows. Washington was not an exception.
Each time they threatened, USC’s defense or special teams made a play.
The Huskies forced two straight punts to start the second half. A 70-yard touchdown pass to John Ross gave them life, bringing the score to 17-13. Darnold’s second interception followed.
On the following possession, defensive back Jack Jones penetrated Washington’s field goal unit and blocked the kick.
The play, Smith said, “took the air out of them,” linebacker Cameron Smith said.
Pendergast has engineered USC’s turnaround with pressure. The grandson of a Arizona homesteader and son of a dairy farmer, he speaks in clipped sentences. His emotions are not readily available. But eventually, even he couldn’t escape the celebration.
“Everybody was smiling,” linebacker Porter Gustin said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen us that happy before.”
Follow Zach Helfand on Twitter @zhelfand
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