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McNeal's big day sparks USC's rout of Washington

Nov 13, 2011 - 3:47 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Curtis McNeal ran for a career-high 148 yards and a score as the 18th-ranked Southern California Trojans routed the Washington Huskies, 40-17.

Marc Tyler added 50 yards and a score on the ground for the Trojans (8-2, 5-2 Pac 12), who outrushed Washington 252-46.

Marqise Lee had an 88-yard kickoff return for touchdown and caught nine balls for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Matt Barkley completed 18-of-28 passes for 174 yards and a score.

The win puts USC in a potential tie atop the Pac-12 South, although the Trojans are ineligible to play in the conference title game. Arizona State plays later on Saturday against Washington State in Pullman. UCLA fell to 4-3 in the conference with a 31-6 loss against Utah on Saturday.

The Trojan defense held Washington's standout running back Chris Polk to just 36 yards rushing and a score on nine carries.

Huskies starting quarterback Keith Price was 12-of-16 for 125 yards before leaving in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury for Washington (6-4, 4-3), which has dropped four of five after winning five of its first six games.

Nick Montana, the son of former legendary San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, took the field midway through the third and finished the game. He threw his first career touchdown and completed 9-of-15 passes for 73 yards.

The Trojans controlled the first half, outgaining the Huskies 246-91 as USC took a commanding 23-3 halftime lead.

USC moved the ball 70 yards in six plays on its second march before Barkley ran in from a yard out to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead with 5:40 remaining in the opening quarter. Barkley found Brice Butler for a 36-yard gain, and Tyler had a 24-yard run down to the one-yard line to highlight the drive.

Meanwhile, Washington's offense managed just six yards of offense on its first three possessions, all resulting in three-and-outs. Washington didn't record its initial first down until 34 ticks showed on the clock in the first quarter. Erik Folk concluded the nine-play drive with a 46-yard field goal to pull Washington within 7-3 early in the second.

Kyle Negrete scampered 35 yards on 4th-and-9 to Washington's 20-yard line on a fake punt, and six plays later, Tyler took a toss off the left edge for a one- yard score to conclude the 13-play, 80-yard drive.

The Trojans made it 16-3 after they forced a safety on Washington's ensuing drive as Price was sacked in the end zone on 3rd-and-9 from its own 10-yard line.

After the free kick, Barkley found Lee over the middle for a nine-yard score to give USC a 23-3 lead with 2:44 to go until halftime.

The onslaught continued as Lee took the opening second-half kickoff 88 yards down the right sideline for the score, giving the Trojans a 30-3 lead.

The Huskies answered with a Polk one-yard score on their ensuing drive. Price threw a strike to Kevin Smith over the middle for a 53-yard gain down to the one to set up the touchdown.

But it took the Trojans just two plays to regain their 27-point lead as McNeal scampered 79 yards off the left edge and down the left sideline for the score with 12:45 to go in the third.

Andre Heidari booted through a 30-yard field goal for USC to open the fourth quarter and Montana threw his first career TD pass to Kasen Williams -- a 20- yard strike -- with 13 seconds left in regulation to conclude the scoring.

Game Notes

USC and Washington played a classic last season at Husky Stadium with the Huskies prevailing, 32-31, on a last second field goal...USC leads the overall series 50-28-4, but its the first win over Washington since 2008...USC travels to Eugene to take on Oregon next Saturday, while the Huskies square off against the Beavers of Oregon State at Reser Stadium...USC excelled on third down, converting 7-of-15, while the Huskies moved the chains just twice in 13 opportunities on third down.