Press-Telegram (Long Beach)

NO STOPPING HERE

No defense in, or for, Trojans' performanc­e against the Huskies Williams can't save USC's defense in high-scoring home loss to Washington

- Jim Alexa■der Columnist By Luca Eva■s levans@scng.com

LOS ANGELES ❯❯ Maybe USC's football players are trying to send a message to their fan base: Defense is overrated.

Bulletin: It most certainly is not, as they've shown.

USC fans have been up in arms for nearly two full seasons over the real and imagined sins of Alex Grinch's defensive unit. Saturday evening, in a game against Washington that was critical to any hopes of getting to the last Pac-12 championsh­ip game, the Trojans' performanc­e almost seemed to be saying: “Oh yeah? Watch

The nation did. And it was ugly, a 52-42 loss to the Huskies that elevated Washington quarterbac­k Michael Penix Jr.'s Heisman chances, seems to have doomed USC to an off-Broadway

THE SCORE WASHINGTON 52, USC 42

Up next:

USC at Oregon, Saturday, TBD, Ch. 11

Inside: No MarShawn Lloyd, no problem for Trojans' run game against Washington.

They wasted Caleb Williams.

LOS ANGELES ❯❯ Again.

For a few minutes, after resolve crumbled at the end of a 52-42 loss to Washington on Saturday night, perhaps the most famous collegiate football player in America was simply a kid who'd lost a ballgame. He hopped up into the stands, postgame, resting his helmeted head on his mother Dayna Price's shoulder, shoulders shaking as she covered his face with a paper sign to shield TV cameras that held and zoomed on heartbreak. He slumped at the back of the postgame presser, sitting on the floor with his back against wall, out of view before eventually standing, trudging over to lean into the mic when asked his emotional state.

“I want to go home and cuddle with my dog,” Williams said, “and watch some shows.”

Inside: Despite weekend of racing, there's still many questions to be answered.

 ?? ?? USC head coach Lincoln Riley signals to his team during the Trojans' 52-42 loss to Washington at the Coliseum on Saturday night.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley signals to his team during the Trojans' 52-42 loss to Washington at the Coliseum on Saturday night.
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