Washington carries big load for 6-0 Trojans

LOS ANGELES – No. 3 Southern California barely resembles the juggernaut the Trojans have been over the past four seasons – with one exception.

USC is still undefeated.

Chauncey Washington did nearly all the work on a 74-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive that lifted the Trojans to a 28-21 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night.

“This is a different year, and this is a different team,” Trojans coach Pete Carroll said. “I think we’re fortunate to be 6-0. It’s really hard to win. How many teams have won all their games? We’re really, really young. I’m thrilled we’re 6-0 and we feel OK about ourselves.”

Among those no longer unbeaten are Texas, Notre Dame, Auburn and Florida – all ranked No. 2 at the time they lost. There’s a chance USC will fill that spot when the new AP poll comes out today.

Washington, a junior tailback, scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard run with 4:29 remaining to cap the 14-play drive that ate up nearly 7 minutes. He gained 64 yards on 10 carries as the Trojans went strictly with a power running game following an ineffective performance by quarterback John David Booty.

ASU got only one first down after that, and the Trojans ran out the clock after a punt.

Washington, academically ineligible the last two seasons and slowed earlier this year by a pulled hamstring, made his first career start a big one, finishing with a career-high 108 yards on 22 carries.