The Stark Truth

You think the day started bad for all those Husky fans waiting for the 9 a.m. ferry in Bremerton.

You should been a member of the Washington defense that was getting pushed all over the field. USC really made it look easy while bolting to a 10-0 lead, but Jake Locker just led the Dawgs on an impressive drive, capping it with a 4-yard run. USC 10, UW 7.

As for the ferry, evidently the Hyak had an electrical problem. Fans in cars were able to drive around, but the walk-on passengers had to wait until 10:15 to leave. Hopefully, all the local fans made it to Husky Stadium by kickoff.

End of first quarter: USC 10, UW 7.

USC was having so much success running the ball, they even went with a run play on 3rd and 13. Washington’s Daniel Te’o Nesheim, however, smelled it out, stopping Joe McKnight in his tracks. Until then, McKnight had barely been hit.

WEATHER: It’s a non-factor. The Huskies have prevailed in the past on those rainy, windy days. It rained early, but was sunny at kickoff and it’s turned into an overcast, cool, crisp autumn day with a little breeze.

NOT A SELLOUT: There’s a lot of empty seats in the horseshoe end of the stadium. The game wasn’t soldout. At last report, there were about 10,000 tickets left on the day of the game, which is a bit surprising. But Husky football’s no longer the only game in town. The Sounders are playing at Qwest and the M’s are home against the Yankees tonight.

BIG BREAK I: Washington’s Mason Foster just forced a fumble that the UW recovered, but they’re reviewing it. Foster put a big hit on USC backup tailback Stafon Johnson. Ruling goes in Washington’s favor. Dawgs will need to force a couple more turnovers if they’re going to have any chance today.

That said, isn’t a bit surreal that people are even giving the Huskies a chance? These are, mostly, the same players that lost 56-0 to USC a year ago. The same players that didn’t win a game in 2008.

USC QB SITUATION: Sophomore Aaron Corp started, as expected, in place of freshman phenom Matt Barkley, who has an injured shoulder. Frankly, USC would be winning with its 6th string QB. USC’s run game has been that impressive. Corp completed 5 of 6 passes for 32 yards in the first quarter, but didn’t have to make any tough throws. The one incompletion was nearly intercepted as he tried to pass in heavy coverage. So the jury’s still out on Corp. If the Dawgs can slow the run, we’ll see if Corp can make it happen through the air.

BIG BREAK II: A personal foul penalthy gives UW first down at the USC 39. Locker had just been flushed out of the pocket and threw the ball away, but the penalty keeps the dirve alive.

Locker, sacked just once in the first two games, has already been sacked twice and he’s been harassed pretty good on 2-3 other occasions.

TIE GAME: A 30-yard completion from Locker to Jermaine Kearse moves it to the 15. Washington can’t get into the end zone, but Erik Folk kicks FG and it’s 10-10. 4:09 left in the half. That USC penalty was huge.

RAIN: The wet stuff is falling. That’s a good omen for Washington, right? Remember that ’82 game when Washington beat No. 4 USC 10-7 in the wind and rain? Fred Small recovered a fumbled kickoff in the end zone for a touchdown.

HALFTIME: 10-10. USC can’t get off a last-second field goal attempt as time expires before they can snap the ball. USC out-gained UW 223-126 and sacked Locker three times. But they had a couple costly penalties and the only turnover. Trojans were also 0-5 on third-down conversions. By USC standards, an awfully sloppy performance.

CAN HUSKIES WIN THIS? Not sure, but the 19-point underdogs have a chance if the Huskies can duplicate the time of possession in the second half. Washington had the ball for 16:51, compared to 13:09 for the Trojans.

MORE HALFTIME THOUGHTS: So far, this one’s not exactly an epic football game. As much as a victory would mean to Washington, the game’s not produced a lot of electric plays. Yeah, there’s been big hits, but I get the feeling the best is yet to come. And I think the Trojans will be bringing their ‘A’ game this half. If that happens, will the Huskies match it? If so, then maybe this game will hit the “epic” category.

WHEW, I’M TIRED: The second has started and I’l tired from watching Jake Locker scramble aorund. He just ran 50 yards, criss-crossing all over, for a 4-yard gain. Imagine how he feels.

NOT A GOOD START: Washington stalls on first possessionaa and Will Mahan’s punt goes just 28 yards. USC starts at midfield.

USC BREAK NO. 1: A sideline interference penalthy on UW defensive coordinator Nick Holt costs the Huskies. USC would have 4th and 4, but the 5-yard penalty gave USC a first down and they’re on the march. First and goal at the 10. Holt’s a high-energy guy who’s always on the field, but that time it got him (and his team) in trouble. He must have been warned before. That’ll be something to talk about after the game.

UW BREAK NO. 3: Did Stanley Havili fumble or was he down at the 16 after catching a short pass? The play is being reviewed. Call stands. It’s UW ball at the 15. Nate Williams recovered the fumble for UW. Wow, big, big break. Dawgs need to grind out a first down or two to take some of the pressure off Locker.

FIELD POSITION: USC defense holds and UW’s Mahan gets off another poor punt — 21 yards. Trojans take over on their own 42. Something’s got to give here pretty soon, doesn’t it? Trojans will pop a big run or maybe a the Dawgs take an interception back. Both teams pretty conservative in their play calling, sensing that one big mistake could be the difference. 5:29 left in third quarter.

BIG BREAK UW NO. 4: Donald Butler intercepts a poor, poor pass by Corp, who, no doubt, wishes he had that throw back. That’s three takeaway for the Huskies. USC has none. UW takes over on its 23.

PLAY THE POLK(A): This Chris Polk kid, he’s pretty good. The freshman RB just made back-to-back catches, the first for a first down and the second for 4 yards to move the ball to USC’s 46.

ANOTHER PUNT: UW can’t sustain anything. A dropped pass and then a poorly thrown pass by Locker — way behind his intended receiver — killed the lastest drive. USC takes over on its 15. At least, the field position has changed in UW’s favor.

FOURTH QUARTER

USC has ball. 2nd and 7 at their 17.

ATTENDANCE: 61,889.

PRESS BOX IS ROCKING: Literally. the crowd’s coming alive as we get the fourth quarter under way and this old rickety box that sits about nine miles above the field was shaking. At least, I didn’t think I was imagining it.

THE BUTLER DID IT: UW’s Donald Butler is having a Pac-10 Player of the Week-type game. He just knocked McKnight out of bounds, stopping him for no gain on a third and 1. It was Butler’s ninth tackle. He also has an interception, forced a fumble and defended a pass.

DAWGS ON THE MOVE: First down at the USC 28. Nice drive for Washington. Locker’s 12-yard pass to James Johnson good for a first down at the 17. Johnson well covered by Kevin Thomas, but Locker put it on the money and Johnson made the catch. Johnson’s the UW’s best freshman receiver since Reggie Williams. In fact, he might be better.

DAWGS LEAD: Nick Folk kicks 46 FG with 9:54 left and Huskies lead No. 3 USC 13-10. It took 11 plays to go 33 yards, but it was enough. Can they hold on?

HERE COME THE TROJANS: They’re down to the UW”s 22 after a 34-yard run by Joe McKnight. Stafon Johnson just tacked o 11 more. First down at the 11.SC afraid to go to the air and UW holds. Jordan Congdon’s 25 FG ties the game: 13-13. There’s 4:07 left.

SIGNING OFF: I’m heading down to the field for the final minutes. It smells like overtime to me.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at 1:12 pm by cstark and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.