Stewart’s fumble return turns USC’s rally into 25–21 win over Washington

Jahkeem Stewart returned a fourth-quarter fumble for a touchdown as USC rallied past Washington 25–21 Saturday night at the Coliseum. Elijah Newby's sack of Demond Williams Jr. dislodged the ball, and Stewart recovered at the Washington 48 before taking it to the end zone.

The score put USC ahead 22–21 after the Trojans had trailed 21–10. Caden Chittenden later made a 39-yard field goal to establish the final margin. USC's defense held Washington without another score, completing a comeback that depended on both an offensive touchdown and the game's decisive defensive play.

Jayden Maiava started the rally with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tanook Hines. That cut the deficit to 21–16 before Newby and Stewart supplied the lead-changing sequence. Newby's pressure turned a Washington possession into USC's go-ahead score, with Stewart carrying the loose ball nearly half the field. The Huskies had led by 11 points before those two touchdowns changed the game.

Washington had built its advantage with three different scoring plays. Receiver Dezmen Roebuck threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Baron Naone. Kade Eldridge scored on a one-yard run, and Williams found Decker DeGraaf for a 42-yard touchdown. USC's earlier points came on Chittenden's 26-yard field goal and Waymond Jordan's eight-yard touchdown run.

Maiava completed 21 of 34 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Zacharyus Williams led USC with 78 receiving yards on four catches, while Hines caught five passes for 51 yards. King Miller carried 18 times for 81 yards, and Jordan added 36 yards and his touchdown on 11 attempts.

Washington's Williams completed 15 of 26 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Roebuck's trick-play throw brought the Huskies' passing total to 203 yards. Brian Bonner Jr. carried 19 times for 89 yards, while Chris Lawson caught five passes for 82 yards. DeGraaf finished with 49 receiving yards and Naone with 40.

USC gained 360 total yards to Washington's 319 and held the ball for 34:58. The Huskies converted just one of 12 third downs, limiting their ability to sustain possessions even while their scoring plays gave them an early advantage. USC's defense made its largest contribution with the fourth-quarter turnover and return.

The Trojans' official preview listed them at 4–1 overall and 1–1 in the Big Ten entering the home game, one week after their loss at Oregon. They improve to 5–1 and 2–1 in conference play. Washington, which entered 3–1 and 0–1, falls to 3–2 and 0–2 after surrendering the final 15 points.