University Southern California Trojans
Secondary Shines in Win over UW
June 21, 1999 | Football
October 31, 1998
LOS ANGELES - Five interceptions. Four different USC defensive backs.
Each had different meaning in a critical 33-10 win over Washington Saturday in the L.A. Coliseum.
"We knew if would beat us," Trojan Antuan Simmons stated, "they had to bet us through the air."
For Simmons, most often the "nickle back" or player inserted on obvious passing downs, it was a matter of big plays. Two of them. Simmons grabbed two interceptions in the fourth quarter and returned both for scores, one for 29 yards and another for 90 yards on the final play of the game.
For All-American Daylon McCutcheon, it was a rare opportunity on a remarkable day. Injured early, his leg was numb and he was removed to the lockerroom for treatment.
Once recovered, he notched an interception as Washington's Brock Huard tired near the end of a game in which he lanched a school record 61 attempts. Huard's total is also the most by any Pac-10 team this season.
"That's what you work for," McCutheon beamed. "If they're going to throw it all day, its to our advantage."
Out of respect for McCutcheon, opponents often pick on the other cornerback -- Ken Haslip. He snagged the first interception late in the fist half, blunting a Huskie scoring opportunity.
The other pick may have the most significant. It came early in the fourth with SC leading by only 14-10. Grant Pearsall interecepted at the Washington 34, setting up a score by Petros Papadakis and triggering a big fourth quarter.
Pearsall summed it up by simply saying, "it's a team game. But you get five interceptions and you're doing something right."
