Washington 27, USC 24
October 07, 2001 | Football
Oct. 7, 2001
Recap| Box Score| Quotes| Photo Gallery
With their 27-24 win today, the Huskies extended their current win streak to 12 games and also own a current 11-game winning streak at home. Washington's win over USC is its sixth in the last 10 games with the Trojans ... the UW moved to 42-26-4 all-time versus USC. The UW owns the longest current win streak in conference games (nine).
After trailing twice today, Washington has had to come from behind in 16 of its 21 wins under coach Rick Neuheisel, which includes 11 times in which it has trailed in the fourth quarter. Twelve of UW's 20 wins under Neuheisel have been by seven points or less.
THE LAST TIME Washington won a game on the last play of the game was October 18, 1980, at Stanford. UW's Chuck Nelson kicked a 25-yard field goal with no time remaining to give Washington a 27-24 win.
USC has now lost its four games this season by a combined 14 points.
The Huskies are now 18-0 under Neuheisel when winning the time of possession battle (32:57 - 27:03) ... with Willie Hurst's 102 yards rushing, the Huskies are 151-34-3 when a UW player rushes for 100 yards or more in a game ... Hurst is the first Husky player to rush for a 100 or more yards this season.
With Todd Elstrom's touchdown in the first quarter, the Huskies have not been shutout in the last 232 consecutive games and the last 154 Pac-10 games.
UW red-shirt freshman Zach Tuiasosopo and senior Sam Blanche made their first career starts today, both at outside linebacker.
Husky Todd Elstrom's seven-yard touchdown reception with 1:35 left in the first quarter is his first touchdown of the season and the sixth of his career ...USC senior fullback Charlie Landrigan's second quarter touchdown was the first of his career ... UW's Reggie Williams' 13-yard reception for a touchdown in the third quarter was the first of his career.
USC had more rushing yards in the first quarter today (71), than it had in the previous two games combined (68). The Trojans had 40 total yards rushing versus Oregon and 28 against Stanford.
USC safety Troy Polamalu's interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter was his school's first (INT for a TD) since he did so in the team's season-opener versus Penn State in 2000 ... against Penn State, Polamalu ran the interception back 43 yards.
Polamalu's TD was the first time the UW has allowed a point off a turnover this season ... the interception return for a touchdown was the first given up by Washington since Colorado's Phil Jackson (28 yards) did so on Sept. 16, 2000.
The Huskies have trailed at halftime in three of the team's four games in 2001, while USC's 14-7 advantage is its first lead at halftime since the team's season-opener with San Jose State.
The Huskies' third-quarter scoring drive, which spanned 5:41 was the team's longest in terms of time of possession this season. The UW's previous long was a 5:36 drive for a field goal against Idaho, the Huskies last scoring drive of the game.
USC quarterback Carson Palmer's first incompletion of the day did not come until 1:35 left in the third quarter. Palmer completed his first seven passes on the day for 94 yards. Palmer then threw six straight incomplete passes before making his first and only completion of the second half - the 58-yard TD toss to Kareem Kelly with 3:47 left in the fourth quarter.
USC junior tailback Sultan McCullough recorded a career high for number of carries with 32, rushing for 132 yards ... it is McCullough's second 100-yard plus rushing game of the season (167 yards vs. San Jose State) and the ninth of his career (7 in 2000). McCullough's 32 carries are the most by a USC player since Chad Morton's 36 carries versus UCLA in 1999.
USC's loss is its first (4-1) when TB Sultan McCullough has started the game and carried more than 25 times.
With his 153 yards of total offense, USC quarterback Carson Palmer moved from fourth to third on the Trojans' career total offense list. Palmer, who now has 6,320 total yards, passed Charles White (6,240).
With two turnovers today, the Huskies matched their previous 2001 season total (fumbled punt and interception versus Idaho). The UW entered today's game leading all of Division I-A football in fewest turnovers.
Other notes: UW junior fullback Matthias Wilson made his first career reception in the second quarter... with his 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, USC kicker David Davis has hit five of his last six field goals ... UW quarterback Taylor Barton, who replaced starter Cody Pickett, had career best numbers on the day, going 11-for-20 for 197 yards and 2 TDs ...with his five catches for 101 yards, UW freshman split end Reggie Williams now has two games with 100 yards or more receiving (also 5 for 134 yards vs. Michigan) ... through four games the UW still has yet to allow a rushing touchdown in 2001.
