USC Experiences Deja-Whew

It had all the makings of another classic finish, a down-to-the-wire battle that would be decided on the last play.

For the second consecutive week, USC’s defense was backed into its own territory and facing a quarterback who had heroically driven his team nearly the length of the field for a final shot at an upset.

Against Washington State, the Trojans foiled a desperation pass as time expired.

On Saturday, Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback never even got the chance.

Game officials started the clock with two seconds left and the Huskies failed to get off a play, allowing third-ranked USC to escape with a 26-20 victory before a drained crowd of 90,282 at the Coliseum.

“All we have to do is win,” defensive lineman Lawrence Jackson said. “If somebody knocks on your door you’re either going to answer it or you’re going to walk away.”

On a day when Arkansas upset previously unbeaten Auburn to possibly help USC in its bid for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game, the Trojans improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference.

USC extended its home winning streak to 29 games and its Pac-10 winning streak to 26, but as they had done at Pullman, Wash., the Trojans exited the field and milled about their locker room with a sense of relief rather than elation.

“Groundhog Day,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “The same finish as last week.”

Carroll wasn’t the only one mulling the Trojans’ recent penchant for last-minute outcomes.

Just as Vince Young had rallied Texas in the final minutes against USC in last season’s Rose Bowl, the elusive Stanback had Washington on the verge of the biggest victory in Coach Tyrone Willingham’s two seasons with the Huskies, who fell to 4-2 and 2-1 in the Pac-10.

“It almost reminded me of the last minute against Texas,” linebacker Brian Cushing said. “We’ve played some good teams and good teams do not give up.

“But we can do better than that. That last minute just got a little nerve-racking.”

USC put itself in that position by failing to create turnovers or fully take advantage of opportunities. The Trojans’ offense scored only one touchdown -- on a second-quarter pass from quarterback John David Booty to sophomore receiver Patrick Turner, who had a career-best 12 receptions.

USC’s other points came on a first-quarter touchdown pass from Michael McDonald to Steve Smith on a fake field goal and four field goals by Mario Danelo. Penalties nullified a touchdown pass from Booty to Smith and a 61-yard run by tailback Chauncey Washington.

“We just kind of let them hang around and when we had a chance to nail it we didn’t,” Carroll said.

Though he completed 23 of 40 passes for 243 yards, Booty had probably his least effective game in five starts. After a poor punt gave the Trojans excellent field position in the third quarter, Huskies linebacker Scott White intercepted a pass that tipped off Turner’s hands.

Cushing blocked a punt on the ensuing possession, but Booty could not drive the Trojans past the Washington 14 and USC settled for Danelo’s 32-yard field goal and a 23-13 lead. Booty also had three passes batted down and two nearly intercepted.

“I have to play better than I did today,” Booty said. “I didn’t play my best game.

“It’s tough, but we’re 5-0, that’s the main thing.”

USC’s defense was buoyed by the return of nose tackle Sedrick Ellis, but the Trojans failed to record a sack for the second consecutive game.

Though slowed by a hip injury in the first half, Stanback showed he has matured greatly. The senior completed 17 of 38 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 33 yards.

USC led, 17-10, at halftime, but saw its lead trimmed to 23-20 on Stanback’s six-yard touchdown pass to Johnie Kirton with 10:06 remaining.

The teams traded possessions before USC went ahead by six on Danelo’s 21-yard field goal with 1:34 remaining.

Stanback then drove the Huskies from his own 20, putting them in position for a possible victory with a fourth-down scramble that gave Washington a first down at the Trojans 34 with 18 seconds left.

Stanback spiked the ball to stop the clock, then completed a 19-yard pass to Sonny Shackelford as the clock ticked down to two seconds.

As Carroll paced the sideline yelling for the clock to start, Willingham and members of his staff yelled instructions to their players.

Meanwhile, USC players braced for one more play.

Safety Taylor Mays tried to get ready despite searing pain in his shoulder.

“I’m like, ‘Get up. What would Lawrence Taylor do? He would get up. He wouldn’t stay on the ground.’ Honest to God, that’s what I was thinking,” Mays said.

Turner and his teammates watched anxiously from the sideline.

“I was just praying,” he said. “That’s all. Praying.”

Referee Brian O’Cain gave the signal to start the clock, and time expired before center Juan Garcia could snap the ball.

“I’m not going to speak of it,” Stanback said. “I don’t want to say the wrong thing.”

Tim Lappano, Washington’s offensive coordinator, said Stanback erred.

“He didn’t get up under center and they started the clock and it was over,” Lappano said. “We should have been able to get the play off.”

Carroll was just happy to have another victory.

“A lot of times in the past there’s games like this you don’t win, so whatever it takes to win ‘em, I don’t care,” he said.

gary.klein@latimes.com