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Seattle — Jonah Coleman rushed for 104 yards and scored two touchdowns, leading Washington to a hard-fought 26-21 victory over USC on Saturday night. This win not only snapped a two-game losing streak for the Huskies but also preserved their impressive 19-game home winning streak.
Will Rogers contributed significantly for Washington, throwing for 262 yards against their longtime rivals, previously from the Pac-12 before the conference underwent realignment. As the game progressed, the Trojans (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten) mounted a strong effort, reaching Washington’s 1-yard line in the fourth quarter, but the Huskies’ defense held firm, stopping Woody Marks on fourth down with just over five minutes remaining.
After the defensive stand, Washington (5-4, 3-3) was forced to punt on their next possession, giving USC quarterback Miller Moss the opportunity to drive down the field to the Husky 14-yard line. However, Moss’s pass intended for Kyron Hudson on third down was broken up by Ephesians Prysock, and the Trojans’ last hope on fourth down ended in an incomplete pass.
The Trojans, who are still grappling with their first season in the Big Ten, faced their fourth defeat in five games. Despite Moss throwing for 293 yards and two touchdowns, his performance was marred by three interceptions, bringing his season total to nine. Washington’s victory edges them closer to bowl eligibility, although tough matchups against No. 3 Penn State and No. 1 Oregon remain on the horizon.
USC’s struggles began early when Moss’s pass to Kyle Ford was intercepted by Carson Bruener on the Trojans’ second possession. Washington capitalized on this mistake, with Grady Gross kicking a 39-yard field goal to score first. Coleman, establishing himself as the leading rusher for the Huskies, added a 19-yard touchdown run before the quarter ended, marking his impressive sixth of the season.
Despite the early setbacks, USC fought back as Moss connected with Zachariah Branch for a 25-yard completion—initially ruled a fumble but overturned after a review, allowing the Trojans to continue their drive. This eventually culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Marks, narrowing the gap to 10-7. The Huskies quickly struck back with Coleman’s 15-yard run for a touchdown, followed by Gross extending the lead to 20-7 with a 45-yard field goal amid steady rain.
The Trojans regrouped after halftime, with Moss celebrating a 37-yard touchdown pass to Makai Lemon, which tightened the score in the third quarter. USC took the lead at 21-20 after an impressive 9-yard TD pass from Moss to Ford. However, Washington regained control following another interception by Bruener, and thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against USC, the Huskies scored again on Keith Reynolds’ 4-yard run, though they failed to convert the subsequent 2-point attempt.
In review, the Trojans had recently broken a three-game losing streak with a convincing 42-20 victory over Rutgers. Marks shone with 123 rushing yards, while Lemon produced eight catches for 70 yards and Branch contributed six receptions for 102 yards. For Washington, the win came as they were recovering from a 31-17 loss to Indiana, and they honored former player and WNBA star Kelsey Plum during the game. Washington will retire Plum’s No. 10 jersey on January 18, marking a historic moment as she becomes the first woman from the university’s basketball program to have her number retired.
Looking ahead, USC will take a break next weekend before returning to host Nebraska on November 16. Meanwhile, Washington is set to face No. 3 Penn State, who suffered a loss earlier in the day against No. 4 Ohio State.
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