Huskies Achieve With a Little Luck

USC and Washington such similar records, such different ways of getting them.

The Trojans are 5-3, but feel as if they gave two games away--the one-point loss to California in which they blew a 21-point lead, and the three-point loss to Oregon in which USC missed three field goals, had a touchdown nullified by a penalty and kicked a field goal instead of going for the tying touchdown on fourth down with about four minutes to play.

Washington is 5-2 with losses to Nebraska and Arizona, but the Huskies should feel lucky. If not for a Hail Mary pass against Arizona State, some mistakes by Cal and Oregon State’s failed two-point conversion attempt on the final play of the game, the Huskies could be 2-5.

“When I look at 5-2, I know there are two Cal and Oregon State would like to have over again,” Washington Coach Jim Lambright said.

The Trojans know the feeling.

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This is it for USC and Washington for the 20th century.

They won’t meet again until 2001, missing each other in the 1999 and 2000 seasons because of Pacific 10 Conference scheduling.

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For whatever it’s worth, when Coach Paul Hackett chose to kick a field goal with 4:14 left against Oregon, the Ducks’ average possession had lasted barely more than two minutes.

Hackett gambled that the Trojans could get the ball back for a final drive, and he lost.

With the game in the balance, Oregon milked the clock for the final 4:03, its second-longest possession of the game.

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Next Up for USC

Who: Washington

Where: at Coliseum

When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

Radio: XTRA (690)