Boos filled the Coliseum as another limp USC drive ended in a punt to begin the third quarter.
asserted
drive → fill → quarter
Trojans fans weren’t through voicing their displeasure.
asserted
fans → voice → displeasure
After two defenders failed to push a Washington receiver out of bounds with half-hearted effort on a nearly inconceivable Huskies touchdown, chants resonated from the student section.
asserted
chants → fail → section
What followed was a lengthy rebuttal by USC’s besieged coach.
asserted
followed → follow → coach
His offense finally got rolling.
asserted
offense → roll → ?
His defense came up with several huge plays.
asserted
defense → come → plays
While it wasn’t the bounce-back performance fans may have envisioned, the No. 18 Trojans’ 25-21 victory Saturday night at the Coliseum sufficed to silence audible calls for Lincoln Riley’s job.
uncertain
victory → bounce → job
The Trojans (5-1 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) scored the game’s final 15 points to save their season from disaster a week after falling at home in an emotionally charged setback against Oregon.
asserted
Trojans → score → Oregon
There was even a notable step forward for Gary Patterson’s defense – with the notable exception of the play in which it appeared to be playing two-hand tag – after the defensive coordinator called the game from the press box for the first time this season.
asserted
coordinator → be → time
The Trojans could exhale only after two massive late plays.
uncertain
Trojans → exhale → plays
Defensive end Kameryn Crawford sacked Demond Williams Jr for a six-yard loss on third down at the USC 12-yard line.
asserted
Crawford → sack → line
That brought up fourth down, and Williams’ pass into the corner of the end zone and into double coverage fell incomplete.
asserted
pass → bring → coverage
The Trojans could finally exhale.
uncertain
Trojans → exhale → ?
USC had surged into a 22-21 lead late in the third quarter after back-to-back touchdowns, including a 10-yard touchdown catch from Tanook Hines and a 48-yard scoop and score by Jahkeem Stewart.
asserted
USC → surge → Stewart
The 295-pound defensive tackle rumbled into the end zone after linebacker Elijah Newby had ripped the ball away from Williams.
asserted
Newby → rumble → Williams
When Caden Chittenden added a 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, the Trojans held a 25-21 advantage.
asserted
Trojans → add → advantage
A bizarre, error-filled first half ended with USC appropriately trailing, 14-10, even after its defense had considerably stepped up from recent performances.
asserted
defense → fill → performances
A partial list of Trojan gaffes included Terrell Anderson muffing a punt that a teammate recovered at USC’s 1-yard line, two illegal formation penalties on the same doomed drive and an unsportsmanlike conduct call on guard Alani Noa that forced the Trojans to punt when they would have otherwise faced a fourth-and-1.
asserted
they → include → fourth
With the Trojans facing third-and-6 at the Washington 9-yard line on their opening drive, the quarterback rolled out instead of cutting upfield toward the end zone.
asserted
quarterback → face → zone
He was brought down and USC had to kick a field goal.
asserted
USC → bring → goal
Maiava also threw a pass up for grabs under pressure, leading to an interception.
asserted
Maiava → throw → interception
Meanwhile, in a far more encouraging sign, USC’s defense forced four three-and-outs in the first half.
asserted
defense → force → half
Washington scored its first touchdown on a trick play and its second after tight end Kade Eldridge took a direct snap and bulldozed into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown.
asserted
Eldridge → score → touchdown
But the Trojans’ defense giving up only 133 yards by the game’s midpoint qualified as a major win given the way it had been pushed around in recent weeks.
asserted
it → give → weeks
Early defensive standouts included linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson – subbing for the suspended Desman Stephens II – who tripped up Williams for a sack, and cornerback Elbert “Rock Hill IV, who broke up a pass on third down.
asserted
who → include → down
The display caught the attention of USC great Matt Leinart, who tweeted, “This is a Great start for Usc [sic] defense !!!”
asserted
This → catch → defense
More importantly, given what followed, the Trojans nailed the finish, perhaps saving their season.
asserted
Trojans → give → season
The Aporia
