SEATTLE — Top-ranked USC is undoubtedly the biggest, fastest and strongest team Jake Locker has seen in his young college football career, and he found that out for sure in the early minutes against the Trojans — the hard way.
On the opening possession of Saturday night’s game, Locker was guiding the Huskies down the field on a promising march. On a third-and-12 play, he broke out of the pocket and scrambled along the right sideline, darting out of bounds just after passing the first-down marker.
Where he ran squarely into Trojans cornerback Shareece Wright.
It was probably the most jarring hit of Locker’s football life. Locker stands 6 feet, 3 inches and is listed at 225 pounds, while Wright is 6-0 and 180, but it was the Husky QB who was dazed by the collision.
“But I think that hit out of bounds rocked him pretty good,” UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said. “I don’t know if he recovered from that.”
Washington picked up a first down on Locker’s dash, and added another 15 yards when Wright was assessed a personal foul penalty for the out-of-bounds hit. But the vicious collision left Locker shaken, according to Lappano.
“Jake was clearly hurting,” he said, “but he still sucked it up and he played. He was running around, trying to do his best, but again he’s young and he got tested by as good a defense as I’ve been around.”
For his part, Locker downplayed the severity of the collision.
“I thought the play was over (after stepping out of bounds) and I really didn’t get a chance to brace myself for that one,” he said. “But it wasn’t too bad. It looked worse than it was.”
Finding a way to win: Though relieved with the victory, most of the USC players and coaches were disappointed with their team’s play against Washington. The Trojans committed 16 penalties for 161 yards — UW coach Tyrone Willingham said there should have been more, particularly holding calls by the USC offensive front — while turning the ball over three times and even suffering a blocked punt.
“Every time we go on the road, or even at home, teams are gunning for us and giving us their best effort,” said USC quarterback John David Booty. “We made it close tonight. (The Huskies) executed when they had to and they got chances when we gave it to them, but it was us. And I take responsibility for that.”
Against the Huskies, he added, “it was a tight game with all the elements — there was rain, it was cold, the wind was swirling, and the crowd was really into it. … We could have lost this game, but we came out with the win.”
Some good, some bad for Locker: For the third straight week, Locker completed less than half of his passes. He finished 13 of 28 for 90 yards and one interception. He was again Washington’s leading rusher, but USC did the best job of any team this season containing him (18 carries for 50 yards). Locker did score both of Washington’s offensive touchdowns, however, with runs of 10 and one yard.
Injury update: After four weeks of fairly injury-free games, the Huskies appear to have suffered their biggest setbacks of the season. Free safety Jason Wells, who in the first quarter had his first interception as a Husky, left the game on the first play of the second quarter with a right-knee injury. Darin Harris played the rest of the game in Wells’ place.
Tyrone Willingham didn’t elaborate on the injury after the game but did indicate that it could be serious.
“That one probably has long-term implications,” he said.
Not long after, center Juan Garcia left the game briefly with an ankle injury, but returned quickly and played the rest of the game. Freshman safety Nate Williams also left with an undisclosed injury, but Willingham said he doesn’t expect that to be a long-term injury.
A plethora of penalties: The 161 penalty yards accumulated by USC were the third-most ever by a UW opponent. Washington gained five first downs by penalty.
The Huskies, meanwhile, had nine for 64 yards. They have not had double-digit penalties in 28 games under Willingham.
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