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USC looks to extend home winning streak vs. Washington

Oct 3, 2006 - 7:34 PM Washington (4-1) at No. 3 USC (4-0), 3:30 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - If Washington can defeat Southern California at home, Tyrone Willingham may wrap up Coach of the Year honors by the first weekend of October.

The resurgent Huskies try to snap the third-ranked Trojans' Pac-10 Conference-record 28-game home winning streak Saturday when they visit Los Angeles Coliseum.

Expected the struggle in its second year under Willingham, Washington (4-1, 2-0 Pac-10) instead has gotten off to its best overall start since 2001 and best conference start since 1999.

The Huskies are coming off a 21-10 triumph at Arizona in which they scored three touchdowns in a six-minute span in the second quarter. Isaiah Stanback threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns for Washington, which recorded six sacks and limited the Wildcats to minus-seven yards rushing.

Still, the Huskies do not have the talent or the depth of the Trojans (4-0, 2-0), who have won 49 of their last 51 games, including 25 consecutive Pac-10 contests and 19 straight conference home games, both league records.

USC looked shaky in a 28-22 triumph at Washington State last Saturday, only securing the victory when true freshman Taylor Mays intercepted Alex Brink near the goal line on the final play. Missing All-American receiver Dwayne Jarrett (shoulder), Steve Smith had 11 catches for 186 yards and two TDs, earning Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors.

The Trojans have won the past four meetings and five of the last six against the Huskies.