Notebook | Tyrone Willingham's gamble going for TD backfires

LOS ANGELES — The Washington Huskies could have avoided one bit of embarrassment Saturday — getting shut out for only the second time since 1981.

Early in the fourth quarter of a game long since lost, however, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham bypassed a chip-shot field goal from the USC 13 and went for it on fourth-and-one. The Huskies got the needed yards, but the ploy backfired when quarterback Ronnie Fouch threw an interception two plays later.

Washington never got on the scoreboard.

"We wanted to go for it," said UW coach Tyrone Willingham. "Our kids wanted to score, I wanted to score. We wanted to get a touchdown."

Fouch agreed. "We felt like we drove all the way down there, we wanted to score, we wanted a touchdown," he said. "None of us questioned his choice."

The Huskies' only other shutout since 1981 came at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2004 when the Trojans won 38-0, snapping UW's 271-game scoring streak.

The Huskies have scored just 20 points in three games, the least since scoring 20 points in three games midway through the 2004 season that included the USC shutout.

The Huskies had scored at least one touchdown in every game under Willingham, other than a 20-3 loss to Stanford in 2006.

It was the third time USC had recorded a shutout this season, including a 69-0 win at WSU two weeks ago.

Huskies get flagged

One point of pride for Washington during the Willingham era is a lack of penalties.

The Huskies have been among the least-penalized teams in the Pac-10 the last three years. Entering Saturday, the Huskies were second in the Pac-10 in fewest penalties (31) and penalty yards per game (35.0) and 10th nationally in fewest penalty yards per game.

But even that failed the Huskies on Saturday.

As the Huskies fell behind 28-0, a trio of big penalties proved significant.

On USC's second scoring drive, the Huskies appeared to have USC stopped on a third-and-four pass incompletion. But Huskies cornerback Matt Mosley was called for a personal-foul penalty for grabbing a facemask, giving the Trojans a first down en route to a 14-0 lead.

On USC's third scoring drive, UW safety Tripper Johnson was called for a personal foul on a late hit that added to a 13-yard run and moved the ball to the Husky 9. USC scored on the next play to make it 21-0.

Johnson said he wasn't sure it was a good call.

"That was a tough play," he said. "The guy is running full speed, and I'm running full speed inside. I thought he was in bounds. It's just unfortunate it had to happen."

And on USC's fourth scoring drive, the Trojans appeared stopped on a fourth-and-goal at the one, but the play was nullified by an encroachment call on UW. The penalty was announced on "No. 20," which UW didn't have on its roster. Speculation was that the call was on cornerback Quinton Richardson, No. 28.

USC proud of preparation

Despite being favored by 46 points, USC coach Pete Carroll warned his players to beware of a Washington team he expected to rally around the departing Willingham.

"I'm proud of our preparation regardless the situation," Carroll said after his team rolled to a 42-0 halftime lead. "It shows we are learning the philosophy and approach, and it comes from hard work."

USC linebacker Rey Maualuga said he felt the Huskies' effort was there despite the 56-0 final score.

"They gave everything they got," he said.

Huskies' injury report

The Huskies lost starting defensive tackle Cameron Elisara to a neck strain in the first half, but the injury isn't thought to be serious.

The Huskies began the game short-handed in the secondary after starting cornerback Mesphin Forrester and safety Victor Aiyewa were left home with injuries. Forrester suffered a knee injury in practice Wednesday, and Aiyewa was hobbled with a groin injury suffered against Notre Dame. Mosley started in place of Forrester and Johnson in place of Aiyewa. Forrester's injury is also thought not to be serious.

NOTES

• After watching his defense turn in a historic performance, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez said this about the unit: "They're doing a heck of a job right now. They make it so easy on us, the offense. When we've struggled at certain points this year, they've had our backs all season long."

• USC has won its four home games this year by a combined 163-13.

• Washington was held under 200 yards for the second straight week, the first time that's happened since late in 2006, Willingham's second year.

• Washington's game captains were Juan Garcia, Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Donald Butler and Michael Gottlieb.

• Freshman tight end Kavario Middleton caught a pass in the first quarter, his first since the second game of the season against Brigham Young.

• Freshman safety Johri Fogerson saw his first action since the Stanford game while battling injuries.

Seattle Times freelancer Chris Tobolski contributed to this notebook.