No. 18 USC Hosts Washington In Homecoming Game
November 06, 2011 | Football
Nov. 6, 2011
It's Homecoming at Troy, as No. 18 USC returns home to host Washington. It's the second consecutive year the teams have met in the Coliseum. The Trojans' games against the Huskies traditionally feature close outcomes, including the past 2 that were decided on last-second field goals by current UW PK Erik Folk. The contest features head coaches Lane Kiffin of USC and Steve Sarkisian of Washington, former Trojan offensive assistants who spent 5 years together in Heritage Hall. Besides Sark, 5 UW football staffers also worked at USC. The Trojans are coming off a comfortable win at new Pac-12 member Colorado. Honors candidate QB Matt Barkley is etching his name throughout the USC recordbook, including last week when he threw a school record 6 TDs (to go along with his game marks for completions, passing yards and total offense). He currently is in the national Top 20 in passing efficiency and total offense and stands fourth on USC's career passing and total offense ladders. Exciting WR/RET Robert Woods is making a strong case for the 2011 Biletnikoff Award and Hornung Award. He is the only player in the nation's Top 6 in receptions (nobody has more catches), receiving yards and all-purpose running and he is on pace to break the Pac-12 single season receptions record. USC's ground game features a number of talented runners, including TB Curtis McNeal (he has led the team in rushing 5 times in 2011). Pre-season All-American OT Matt Kalil (with 4 blocked kicks this year on special teams) anchors a line that has allowed just 5 sacks. The Trojan defense, particularly staunch against the run, features the likes of CB Nickell Robey, pre-season All-American S T.J. McDonald, LBs Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard and DE Nick Perry. PK Andre Heidari is among the nation's best field goal kickers (he has missed just twice in 15 tries), while P Kyle Negrete has pinned opponents within the 20-yard line on 17 of his 28 punts (with no touchbacks and only 5 returns). Washington fell last weekend to Oregon in the last game at the current Husky Stadium, which will undergo massive renovations that will keep it dark in 2012. The Huskies' offense, directed by QB Keith Price (14th nationally in passing efficiency), is 13th in the nation in passing efficiency. TB Chris Polk, seventh in the country in rushing and 16th in all-purpose running, has run for 1,000 yards for the third straight season in 2011 and is second on UW's career rushing chart. He has 18 career 100-yard rushing games, including 7 this year. WR Jermaine Kearse is second on the school's career receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs lists. ILB Cort Dennison is the Pac-12's top tackler. The game will be shown live on FX. There will be an on-field salute of USC Olympians, as well as a recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen as part of the Veterans Day weekend. The USC men's and women's basketball teams open their 2012 campaign with a home doubleheader the previous night.
