The nation tuned in to watch a couple of Heisman-contenders duke it out between Washington quarterback Michael Penix and reigning Heisman Trophy winner, but it was Husky RB who reigned.  The Mississippi State transfer carried the ball 26 times for 256 yards and 4 touchdowns.  He also had 2 receptions for 11 yards.

Washington won its 16th consecutive game, this one by a score of 52-42 at a sold-out Los Angeles Coliseum.

After USC took its opening drive 75 yards in 12 plays, Johnson delivered a message to the Trojans his first carry of the afternoon.  On second and five, with the ball on the Washington 30 he bounced the play outside he spiked a defender with his left hand and carried the ball for an additional 7 yards.  He continued to punish the home team, capping off the drive with a 2-yard score a few plays later.

Penix also had 256 yards going 22 for 30 with 2 TDs and an interception.

Two weeks after the Washington failed to score an offensive TD against Arizona State the Huskies found paydirt 7 times.  On that night of a  non-existent Washington offense, it was the defense that rose to the occasion.  After scoring on 4 of its 7 first half possessions, USC touched the ball just 4 times in the second half.

The Huskies moved away from their quick strike offense, opting to “Run the Damn Ball” down with Johnson.

In the 3rd quarter USC scored 14 points but zero in the 4th quarter, prompting DeBoer to say, “10-zero in the fourth quarter, that’s the difference in the game.”

Against the Trojans, as was the case for the final 13 minutes of the Oregon the UW defense rose to the occasion holding USC scoreless the Every close game this year when Washington needed a big moment someone found a way.

In this game it was Zion Tupuola-Fetui who sacked Caleb Williams late in the first half, giving the Huskies the ball at the Trojans’ 12 yard line  Two plays later Johnson scored from 7 yards out, stretching at the pylon.  That hit came moments after going 70 yards in 8 plays to knot the game at 28.

From that point on it was USC who had to try to keep up with Washington’s offense which they did until the 4th quarter.  After getting a national season high for QB pressures it was Trice who fell onto the Williams fumble.

However, it was a Zion Tupuola-Fetui strip-sack at the USC 12 yard line that finally turned the game into Washington’s favor.

In a back and forth game, USC tied the score on a 20-yard TD pass from Williams to Max Williams.  For the final 16:46 minutes of the game Washington held USC scoreless.  UW reclaimed the lead on a 43-yard Grady Gross field goal

The scoreless final frame was cued up by edge defender Voi Tunuufi’s sack of Williams for a 12-yard loss on 3rd and 13.  That play came after the Trojans looked to have taken the lead on a 24-yard screen pass.  However, a hold was called setting up a rare stunt blitz where Tunuufi put Williams on his backside.

That knocked USC out of field goal range and forcing a punt.  Washington’s next possession started at the Trojan 9 yard line when Johnson etched his name in to Husky record book.  On his first carry of the drive Johnson ran for 53 yards to the USC 38 yard line to go over 200 yards.

After getting treatment for tightness he returned to carry the ball 11 yards to the USC 1.  He took the ball in for a rather large exclamation point to his night.  His 4 TD’s is tied for 4th most in Husky history while his 256 yards is 5th all time for a single game.  Combined that’s the second-best game by a Washington RB since Hugh McElhenny in the 1950 Apple Cup.

Looking to finish strongly like Wayne Taulapapa last season, Johnson had 430 yards on the season.  With his big night, he now has 686 yards through 9 games along with 10 TDs

Another off-season acquisition, Daniyel Ngata’s contribution should not to be overlooked as the former Sun Devil had 112 yards on 5 kickoff returns.

Notebook:

UW Punter Jack McCallister had only allowed 2 punt return yards on the season.  USC had one punt return for 12 yards.

Washington was without a top receiving target Jalen McMillan, starting safety Asa, and key backup lineman Geirean Hatchett

There will be no 3rd quarter light show at Husky Stadium next Saturday as the Pac-12 announced that Utah at Washington will start at 12:30.

No player on Washington’s roster had played in the LA Coliseum before tonight

The teams traded blows early on with the game being tied at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42.

Dominique Hampton led all tacklers with 10 stops.

Zion Tupuola-Fetui had his first multi-sack performance of the season.

Both teams finished with 11.6 yards per completion and 7.5 yards per rushing attempt and both team’s lone turnover tuned into a TD.