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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"**** YOU SARK!" cascades down from the crowd as the Trojans run off.</p>— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShotgunSpr/status/652336497299877890">October 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
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The weather was the only thing cooperating for USC Thursday night at the Los Angeles Coliseum. On a night where USC was favored to walk over the Huskies on their way to a very rough next couple of weeks, they fell to an unranked Washington team who never once looked like an underdog... and boy did it cost them.
Offensive anchor Max Tuerk left the game in the 1st quarter with a sprained knee and did not return, his status is unknown at the time of this posting. His presence was sorely missed as Cody Kessler never got comfortable, often picking up shotgun snaps off of his shoelaces. Steven Mitchell Jr. also ended up in sweats and did not return. Kessler did himself no favors, throwing nearly as many interceptions in the first quarter as USC scored points. Kessler found himself beat up, dirty, and under duress all night.
The "running back by committee" method was the only somewhat bright spot in an otherwise uninspired offensive showing. USC racked up 190 rushing yards on 39 attempts, each back making their presence felt. In the first half, USC converted 1 of 8 3rd downs, 2 for 2 on 4th strangely enough. USC was held without a touchdown in the first half since 2011.
On defense, Iman Marshall was taken to the locker room in the 3rd quarter and would not return; Unfortunate on a night where he made his first career interception.
The SC defense had their hands full with a very creative Washington offense, as is to be expected from head coach Chris Petersen. They threw everything and the kitchen sink, with a double pass touchdown to open the second half scoring, and even a wildly offset punt formation, which forced Adoree Jackson up to play defense on a 4th and short, keeping the ball out of his very dangerous hands. Freshman quarterback Jake Browning made a point to test the young USC secondary every chance he got and true Freshman running back Myles Gaskin racked up 122 yards on 22 carries yards and the touchdown to seal it.