Loading ...No. 3 USC falters…
For the Washington Huskies, this past weekend was a weekend of many firsts. It was the first time new head coach Steve Sarkisian faced off against his old team, USC. The first time the Huskies had beat USC since 2001. Their first time celebrating back-to-back victories since September 8, 2007. The first time they had beaten a number three ranked team, USC, since November 14, 1981. And, after pulling off the biggest upset so far this year with a 16-13 win over the Trojans, the first time the Huskies have been ranked since September 28, 2003 – entering the new polls at No. 24 in the nation.
As for USC, it was the first time they were held to 110 total passing yards since head coach Pete Carroll took over in 2001. And it was the first time they failed to convert a third down since Carroll took over, going 0-10 on the day. But there we a few things that aren’t so new to the men of Troy.
USC has now lost to an unranked team in each of the last four seasons – a trend that Trojan fans have to be getting tired of. In 2008, they were upset by Oregon State. In 2007, an always powerful Stanford took them by surprise. And in 2006, UCLA got the best of them. See the theme here? USC has proven time and time again that they are the most overrated team in college football (barely beating out Notre Dame). It’s time everyone caught on to that and stopped handing them a top 5 slot and let them earn it by winning, and not with specials on ESPN.
Washington Kicker Erik Folk after he hit the game-winning field goal (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
However, none of the games showcased a powerful (and overrated) Trojans team getting out-played and dominated on the field. The Huskies’ defense, which allowed the Idaho Vandals to rack up 412 total yards, shut down the Trojans, allowing just 110 pass yards and no 3rd-down conversions in ten attempts. Now, I know freshman QB Matt Barkley didn’t play, but it is still USC playing Washington. The way people hype USC would lead me to believe that their bench has to be better than most teams’ starters.
That being said, it didn’t matter, because Washington handled USC’s backups, and starters, with no problems.
The Trojans jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, exactly how they expected the game to go. But then something happened that wasn’t supposed to…the Huskies fought back. Led offensively by junior QB Jake Locker, who was 21-35 for 237 yards and completed passes to nine different receivers, Washington put seven on the board with a Locker rushing touchdown (the kid can do it all). After that, the Huskies defense took over.
They managed to create three turnovers, mainly because this seemed to be not only USC quarterback Aaron Corp’s first start, but his first time playing football in general. Corp was 13-22 for a measly 110 yards and a pick, and failed to connect with any of his receivers when it mattered late in the game. Had it not been for the Trojans run game, Washington might very well have blanked the former No.3 team in the nation.
With 4:07 left in the game the score all tied up 13, the Huskies defense got Locker the ball back at his own 33. Locker engineered a drive very similar to the one that USC fans saw Barkley execute to help them beat Ohio State the week before – except this time, they were the ones about to lose.
Jack Locker avoiding the rush and finding Jermaine Kearse for a huge 19-yard reception that would set up that game-winning field goal. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
After two dismal plays, Washington was faced with a third-and-15 and 3:03 left on the clock. But this team didn’t roll over and die for USC like most teams do. Instead, Locker fired a dart to WR Jermaine Kearse for a 21-yard first down. Three plays later on another must-convert third down, Locker used his legs to gain four yards and yet another Washington first down.
Then, with under a minute left, Locker dropped back to pass, avoided the pass rush, scrambled out and found Kearse again for a 19-yard completion and a first down. Couple that with the 15-yard roughing the passer penalty the Trojans got for cheap-shotting Locker, and the Huskies had the ball on the USC eight yard line with 33 seconds left in the game.
Shortly after that, Washington kicker Erik Folk trotted out to make the game-winning 22-yard field goal, and Husky Stadium erupted. USC admitted they were out-played, but they don’t have to make excuses, everyone else will for them. The Trojans, who dropped to No.12 (but will somehow be back in the Top 5 inside four weeks because of their tough schedule), will now need other teams to lose if they plan on playing for a National Championship.
The Huskies exposed a USC team as frauds and made a name for themselves by battling with a tough LSU team in week one and upsetting USC in week three. Watch for the Huskies to build on this momentum and steal the PAC-10 this season.
USC running back Joe McKnight said it best at the end of this monumental upset. “Washington wasn’t the better team. They just outplayed us,” said an arrogant, but defeated McKnight, “Clearly, we have superior athletes. But hard work beats athleticism any day.”
While it wasn’t too clear that USC had the better athletes, it was very clear that Washington had the better team, and QB, that day and will for the rest of the 2009 season.
gotta disagree with you here. USC isnt as over- rated as you make them out to be. They always win the big game. Problem is they struggle on the road in conference play and always seem to let (just)one slip. They restock every year and Pete Carroll is arguably the best coach in the country. Well worth a Top 10 rank perennially
Locker is God