USC vs. Washington State: Darnold fumbles on final drive as Cougars upset Trojans

E.Jay Zarett

•
USC vs. Washington State: Darnold fumbles on final drive as Cougars upset Trojans image

Washington St. kicked a field goal with 1:40 left and forced a USC fumble two plays later to hold on for a 30-27 victory over the Trojans on Friday night.

Cougars linebacker Jahad Woods broke through the line of scrimmage and sacked USC quarterback Sam Darnold, causing a fumble on the Trojans final possession. Nate DeRider recovered the ball and secured WSU’s win. 

MORE: College football Week 5 primer

Darnold threw for just 164 yards and added an interception in the game. Running back Ronald Jones II tallied 128 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown for USC.

Quarterback Luke Falk totaled 340 passing yards and two touchdowns to lead Washington St. to the victory.

Sporting News provided live updates throughout Friday night’s game. Here’s how Washington St. came away with the win (All times Eastern): 

Final score: Washington St. 30, USC 27 

2:07 a.m.: Turnover USC. After an incomplete pass on first down, Darnold takes a big hit and fumbles the football. WSU recovers and that should do it as the Cougars hold on. 

2:06 a.m.: USC will start its drive at its own 25-yard line. There’s 1:40 left to go in this one. 

2:03 a.m.: Field goal Washington St. WSU hands it off to James Williams on third-and-2, but USC brings him down for no gain, forcing the Cougars to settle for a field goal. WSU now leads 30-27 with 1:40 left. 

1:57 a.m.: Washington St. advances into USC territory. Jamal Morrow takes a handoff and runs 35 yards, moving the Cougars to the USC 23 with 3:21 left. 

1:51 a.m.: Touchdown USC. Following the fourth down conversion, Darnold completes another pass to Vaughns, this one for 26 yards, moving USC to the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Darnold runs it into the end zone to tie the score at 27-27. Darnold has two rushing touchdowns in the game. 

1:49 a.m.: Facing a fourth-and-13 at the WSU 27, USC decides to go for it. Darnold takes the snap, steps up in the pocket and completes a 15-yard pass to Tyler Vaughns, extending the Trojans drive. 

1:44 a.m.: Darnold seems to have finally found a bit of a rhythm for USC. He’s completed three straight passes on this drive and run for 13 yards. The Trojans currently have it at the WSU 39. 

1:35 a.m.: Touchdown Washington St. One play after converting on fourth down, WSU retakes the lead. Falk connects with Jamal Morrow on a shovel pass near the line of scrimmage. Morrow hauls in the short pass, turns up field and breaks away for the 23-yard score to give the Cougars a 27-20 advantage. 

1:34 a.m.: Washington St. goes for it on fourth-and-3 at the USC 34-yard line. Falk drops back, scans the field and finds Kyle Sweet near the sideline for the conversion. 

1:31 a.m.: Washington St. is driving down the field to open the fourth quarter and has moved into USC territory. Falk has completed six passes on the drive so far. 

End of third quarter: USC 20, Washington St. 20 

1:21 a.m.: Field goal USC. After starting their drive at the Washington St. 28-yard line, the Trojans add a 29-yard field goal and tie the score at 20-20.  

1:17 a.m.: Washington St. defensive back Robert Taylor was initially called for targeting following a hit on receiver Deontay Burnett. But following review, the targeting call was reversed and Taylor remains in the game. 

1:14 a.m.: Washington St. goes three-and-out is forced to punt from its own end zone. On the kick, the ball takes a USC bounce and it’ll take over on the Cougars 28-yard line. 

1:08 a.m.: Darnold continues to struggle. He throws two more incompletions on the drive and USC punts again. The USC quarterback is now 9-for-20 on pass attempts in the game. 

1:06 a.m.: USC gets into the backfield and brings down James Williams behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-1, forcing a WSU punt.  

1:01 a.m.: USC picks up a quick first down on its second drive of the half, but fails to move the chains again. Darnold has just 89 passing yards with 6:44 to go in the third quarter.  

12:54 a.m.: Field goal Washington St. The Cougars advance to the USC 12 before drawing a flag for holding. After two incompletions and a short run, Erik Powell hits a 33-yard field to put WSU ahead, 20-17. 

12:48 a.m.: Falk takes a huge hit on a third-and-14 pass. But, he just manages to get the ball away and finds Renard Bell for a 25-yard gain, moving Washington St. into USC territory. 

12:44 a.m.: USC is called for an offensive pass interference on its first possession of the half and then goes three-and-out. 

12:40 a.m.: Washington St. coach Mike Leach’s interview at the end of the second quarter didn’t last very long: 

12:38 a.m.: We’re back for the second half at Martin Stadium. USC will start the first possession of the third quarter at its own 25-yard line. 

Halftime: USC 17, Washington St. 17

12:19 a.m.: USC and Washington St. finish the game’s first 30 minutes tied at 17. Darnold threw an interception in the half and completed just seven passes for 73 yards, while Jones rushed for 118 yards on seven carriers. Falk was 16-of-24 on pass attempts, tallying 184 yards for Washington St. He also added an interception.  

12:15 a.m.: Touchdown Washington St. The Cougars string together a 12-play, 94-yard drive and tie the score at 17-17 just before halftime. On a second-and-6, Falk attempted a pass in the end zone to Martin. Falk’s throw fell incomplete, but USC defensive back Jack Jones was called for pass interference, moving the ball to the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Jamal Morrow ran it in for a 1-yard score.  

12:02 a.m.: USC goes three-and-out and Washington St. will take over at its own six following a 62-yard punt by Reid Budrovich.

12:01 a.m.: Washington St.’s drive stalls and its forced to punt. USC gets the ball back looking to add to its advantage before halftime. 

11:56 p.m.: Falk finds Tavares Martin Jr. for a 15-yard reception and a first down. The completion was Falk’s 1,188 of his career, breaking the all-time Pac-12 mark.

11:49 p.m.: Field goal USC. The Trojans fail to punch it in following the interception and are forced to settle for three points. Washington St. now trails 17-10. 

11:46 p.m.: Turnover Washington St. Following its touchdown, USC gets the ball back after one play. On first down, USC's Uchenna Nwosu knocks down Falk’s pass at the line of scrimmage. The ball bounces off a Cougars offensive lineman and back into the hands of Nwosu. USC takes over on the Washington St. 2-yard line. 

11:42 p.m.: Touchdown USC. Facing a third-and-short deep in their own territory, Darnold hands off to Ronald Jones II. Jones bursts through the line of scrimmage and goes all the way into the end zone untouched for an 86-yard score. The Trojans now lead 14-10. 

11:35 p.m.: Washington St. fails to convert on the turnover. Facing a fourth-and-5, the Cougars initially appeared as if they were going to go for it. But, after a timeout, Washington St. coach Mike Leach decided to punt. 

11:27 p.m.: Turnover USC. After a run for loss on first down, Darnold attempts to find receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe near the first down marker. But WSU defensive back Sean Harper Jr. jumps the route and comes up with the interception. 

11:21 p.m.: Touchdown Washington St. The Cougars retake the lead, 10-7. After Falk’s long completion, he finds Tavares Martin Jr. on a third down screen pass. Martin gets a block and accelerates into the end zone for the score.

End of first quarter: USC 7, Washington St. 3

11:16 p.m.:  It takes one play for the Cougars to move into USC territory. On first down, Falk connects with Renard Bell for a 61-yard reception. Washington St. now has it on the 28-yard line.

11:15 p.m.: The Trojans started their last drive at the Cougars 41. But the Trojans go three-and-out and Washington St. will take over again.  

11:12 p.m.: USC right tackle Chuma Edoga is forced to leave the game with an apparent leg injury after an incomplete pass on first down. 

11:10 p.m.: After USC forces a three-and-out, Washington St. is forced to kick it away. The Trojans, however, muff the punt but manage to recover the fumble. USC now has it on the Washington St. 41. 

11:07 p.m.: USC moves near midfield after Darnold connects with Tyler Vaughns for a 24-yard reception. But the Trojans fail to move the chains again and punt it away. Washington St. takes over near its own end zone with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter.  

11 p.m.: After picking up one first down, Washington St. faced a third-and-9 at its own 36. On the play, Falk delivered a pass to a wide open Tavares Martin Jr. that would have moved the chains. But the ball bounced off Martin’s hands and fell incomplete and the Cougars were forced to punt. 

10:50 p.m.: Touchdown USC. The Trojans take a 7-3 lead with 7:46 left in the first quarter. After the Trojans drive to the Washington St. 13, the Cougars seem to have an easy sack as a free rusher breaks through the line of scrimmage. But Darnold avoids the pressure, scrambles out of the pocket, breaks a tackle and gains nine yards. 

One play later, he runs a read option, holds on to the football and runs into the end zone for a 4-yard score. 

10:41 p.m.: Field goal Washington St . The Cougars get on the scoreboard first and take a 3-0 lead. Falk completes four passes and Jamal Morrow breaks a 30-yard run to bring Washington St. into Trojans territory. On third down at the USC 27, Falk escapes pressure and is nearly brought down before heaving a pass into the end zone. The throw, however, is dropped by Jamire Calvin and Washington St. is forced to settle for a field goal. 

10:35 p.m.: We’re underway at Martin Stadium. Washington St. takes the first possession of the game. 

10:11 p.m.: The Trojans announce their starters: 

10 p.m.:  There are 22 NFL scouts in attendance for tonight’s game, according to a report by the Spokesman-Review.  

9:40 p.m.: Luke Falk with some light pregame tosses. 

8:30 p.m.: Here’s a look at Martin Stadium about two hours before kickoff. 

E.Jay Zarett