USC holds off Washington amid calls for Lincoln Rileys job

Boos filled the Coliseum as another limp USC drive ended in a punt to begin the third quarter.Trojans fans weren’t through voicing their displeasure.Not even close.After two defenders failed to push a Washington receiver out of bounds with half-hearted effort on a nearly inconceivable Huskies touchdown, chants resonated from the student section.“Fire Lincoln! Fire Lincoln!”What followed was a lengthy rebuttal by USC’s besieged coach.His offense finally got rolling.

His defense came up with several huge plays.While it wasn’t the bounce-back performance fans may have envisioned, the No.18 Trojans’ 25-21 victory Saturday night at the Coliseum sufficed to silence audible calls for Lincoln Riley’s job.At least for the moment.The Trojans (5-1 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) scored the game’s final 15 points to save their season from disaster a week after falling at home in an emotionally charged setback against Oregon.There was even a notable step forward for Gary Patterson’s defense – with the notable exception of the play in which it appeared to be playing two-hand tag – after the defensive coordinator called the game from the press box for the first time this season.The Trojans could exhale only after two massive late plays.Defensive end Kameryn Crawford sacked Demond Williams Jr for a six-yard loss on third down at the USC 12-yard line.

That brought up fourth down, and Williams’ pass into the corner of the end zone and into double coverage fell incomplete.The Trojans could finally exhale.USC had surged into a 22-21 lead late in the third quarter after back-to-back touchdowns, including a 10-yard touchdown catch from Tanook Hines and a 48-yard scoop and score by Jahkeem Stewart.The 295-pound defensive tackle rumbled into the end zone after linebacker Elijah Newby had ripped the ball away from Williams.When Caden Chittenden added a 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, the Trojans held a 25-21 advantage.A bizarre, error-filled first half ended...