Carroll Defends Decisions Made Near End of Game

USC’s offense, defense and special teams were tested against Washington during a second consecutive Pacific 10 Conference game that was not decided until the final seconds.

The coaching staff’s clock-management skills also got another workout.

On Sunday, a day after his team escaped with a 26-20 victory over the Huskies, Coach Pete Carroll stood by his decisions in the final minutes and said his staff prepares for the unpredictable.

“We’ve been through the scenarios that we need to be through for the most part,” Carroll said. “We think we’re ready for about anything that can come down on us.”

USC’s game against Washington came down to the last two seconds, but the Huskies failed to get a play off from the Trojans’ 15-yard line after the referee signaled for the clock to start. The miscue helped USC remain unbeaten and kept the Trojans on track for a possible berth in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

The close call did not hurt USC in the coaches’ or Harris polls, which will be a part of the BCS standings equation. But the Trojans fell from second to third in the Associated Press poll as Florida jumped from fifth to second.

After the game, USC players said blowout victories that characterized the previous two seasons were probably a thing of the past.

“They have guys on scholarship that were high school All-Americans the same as we do,” defensive end Lawrence Jackson said. “You’ve got to expect close games.”

On Saturday against Washington, USC had a third-and-goal situation from the four-yard line with 1:42 left. Rather than running the ball, and possibly forcing Washington to use its final timeout, quarterback John David Booty threw an incomplete pass that was intended for tight end Fred Davis.

Asked if he had thought about running the ball, Carroll said, “Yeah, we could have, but it was worth going for the touchdown and seeing if you could score it there.

“We thought we had a call we could make.”

Carroll said he did not consider running the ball on fourth down rather than kicking a field goal that gave the Trojans a six-point lead. After a touchback on the kickoff, Washington began its final drive on its 20 with 1:34 left.

“Kicking the field goal is exactly the right thing to do,” he said.

“You make them have to score a touchdown with one timeout left. I don’t know any other way to do that.”

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Carroll was still dismayed by the delay that occurred before the referee signaled for the game clock to start with two seconds left.

“That was a real mistake. There’s no reason for that,” Carroll said.

Carroll also said he would ask Verle Sorgen, the Pac-10’s coordinator of officials, to explain several crucial penalties.

A holding call against tackle Kyle Williams nullified a second-quarter touchdown pass from Booty to Steve Smith.

Tackle Sam Baker was called for an illegal block, nullifying a 61-yard run by Chauncey Washington in the third quarter.

“I couldn’t find either one of those calls,” said Carroll, who also described a personal-foul penalty called against safety Taylor Mays as “ridiculous.”

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Smith, who suffered an ankle sprain, will be evaluated today and his status for Saturday’s game against Arizona State will be determined as the week progresses. Split end Dwayne Jarrett (shoulder) is expected to practice, but he also is day to day. Linebacker Oscar Lua was kicked in the leg and Mays aggravated a shoulder injury, but both are expected to play Saturday.

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gary.klein@latimes.com