USC wins on Flag Day

SEATTLE -- The light rain that fell throughout most of the game did not seem to bother or slow down USC.

But an unexpected storm of penalties, injuries and turnovers swept the top-ranked Trojans to the brink of a mighty fall that might have drowned their hopes for a run at the national title.

During a weekend of upsets across the country, however, USC weathered its mistakes on Saturday and narrowly escaped with a 27-24 victory over Washington before 68,654 at Husky Stadium.

“We almost beat ourselves tonight,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “We tried really hard.”

USC appeared as if it might join a good portion of top-10 teams that will topple down the polls.

Third-ranked Oklahoma, No. 4 Florida, No. 5 West Virginia, No. 7 Texas and No. 10 Rutgers all were upset, but USC managed to overcome two interceptions, a fumble, a blocked punt, an astounding 16 penalties for 161 yards and injuries to several key players.

USC extended a 17-14 halftime lead to 10 points with three minutes left, but did not have the victory secured until Terrell Thomas recovered an onside kick with under a minute left.

“There were other teams that played that way and they stumbled up and lost a game,” said sophomore safety Taylor Mays, who almost saw his homecoming to Seattle turn into a disaster. “We were fortunate we weren’t one of them.”

The Trojans improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference by holding off the Huskies at the end for the second year in a row.

Last season, Washington was threatening deep inside USC territory but time expired before the Huskies could run a final play.

“We just couldn’t do more things wrong in the game,” Carroll said. “Just wouldn’t get out of our own way. . . . When you can really mess it up and give away a night.

“I thought Washington was there for it. They were there to take it. All they needed was one more chance.”

Washington Coach Tyrone Willingham would not claim a moral victory.

“I don’t take any solace that we came close and didn’t win,” said Willingham, whose team fell to 2-3 and 0-2 in the Pac-10. “We only teach one thing and that’s to win, and that’s the only way you play. I think our guys gave great effort, great fight but a few too many mistakes we didn’t overcome.”

Washington pulled to within 24-17 early in the fourth quarter Ryan Perkins’ 37-yard field goal and had the momentum when USC was forced to punt with just over seven minutes left. But Thomas stripped the ball from Anthony Russo for a fumble and recovered at the Huskies’ 43-yard-line, setting up David Buehler’s 33-yard field goal with 3:01 remaining.

The Huskies blocked a punt with 1:15 left and scored on quarterback Jake Locker’s one-yard run to pull to pull to within the final margin with 34 seconds left.

USC’s defense committed several of the penalties, but linebacker Rey Maualuga led a unit that mostly kept Washington quarterback Locker in check.

With tailbacks Stafon Johnson and Chauncey Washington both rushing for more than 100 yards, the Trojans outgained the Huskies, 460 yards to 190. But that did not appease Carroll.

“We were so horrid, it’s hard to watch,” he said.

Carroll and his players also had to endure the loss of center Kris O’Dowd and guard Chilo Rachal, who suffered knee injuries on the same first-quarter play, and cornerback Shareece Wright, who left the game because of a hamstring strain.

Carroll has taken extra time during the week to warn his team about the crowd at Husky Stadium, but the Trojans’ linemen still had trouble with the noise.

“Sometimes the adrenaline stuff gets you going so much, it’s that little half a second you lose your focus and it can kill you,” said senior center Matt Spanos, who played most of the game in place of O’Dowd despite a torn triceps that will require postseason surgery.

USC quarterback John David Booty had a rough night, completing 20 of 37 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. One of the interceptions was returned 54 yards for a touchdown by former Venice High standout Mesphin Forrester, tying the score, 14-14, late in the first half.

Booty nearly had a third pass picked off, but on review officials ruled that UCLA transfer Byron Davenport did not have control in the end zone.

Granted the reprieve, Buehler kicked the field goal that proved to be the difference.

“Sometimes you just do have these games,” Booty said. “I’m sure it’s not going to be the last one this year.”

USC now turns to the easiest part of its schedule with consecutive home games against Stanford and Arizona before traveling to Notre Dame.

“Fortunately we get out of here and get back to work and clean it up,” Carroll said. “We can’t play like that. If we do, we’ll be a normal team like a lot of other teams and get beat.

“Our guys understand that. They understand you have to play like crazy every week and you’ve got to get out there and do the right things. This is a classic example of how you can go in the other direction and almost lose a football game.”

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gary.klein@latimes.com