The bodies were already in short supply. Shane Lee was out for Saturday night’s game against Washington State. This is on top of Romello Height being out for the season and other players nursing injuries.
Then safety Calen Bullock was ejected for targeting in the first half. His replacement, Anthony Beavers, immediately got torched for a long pass, something which had not previously happened to USC this season. No quarterback had completed a home-run throw over the top until that play.
Attrition and a bad ejection squeezed USC. The rigors of the season, six weeks in, were beginning to be felt. USC trailed 14-10. How was this defense going to respond?
It didn’t allow Washington State to score in the second half. USC 30, Wazzu 14. Final.
Let’s take you through the night and give you observations from journalists and fans on the various components of another winning effort from the USC defense, highlighted by Tuli Tuipulotu’s monster night as the Sack Monster Of Los Angeles. Tuli was a beast, and USC’s defense achieved Beast Mode in the second half: