Washington Huskies	Southern Cal Trojans ©
Played November 15, 1980 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, California

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Washington	1	2	3	0	.400	2	2	0	.500	0	1	0	.000
Southern Cal ©	4	38	3	3	.898	16	1	2	.895	18	2	1	.881	4	0	0	1.000

 

 

Two years & 4 days earlier, the Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson had ended the 1-week Belt reign of Don James’ Washington Huskies.  This game would see a reversal of fortunes for both teams.  Washington entered the game 7-2 while the Trojans were 7-0-1 & ranked 2^nd nationally.  Washington took advantage of 8 turnovers by Southern Cal & a punt returned for a touchdown by CB Ray Horton as the Huskies upset the Trojans 20-10 to claim The Belt.  The loss ended the 24-game, 2-year reign of the champions.  Washington took the lead with a 47-yard field goal by All-Pac 10 PK Chuck Nelson after forcing Southern Cal to punt.  This marked the first time in the season that the Trojans trailed in a game.  Southern Cal drove 75 yards before Washington's LB Tony Caldwell intercepted a pass from Trojans' QB Gordon Adams in the end zone to thwart the scoring effort.  The teams then traded fumbles to finish the quarter with Washington leading 3-0.  In the 2^nd quarter, Southern Cal’s All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen appeared to break free for a 67-yard touchdown run but officials ruled he had stepped out of bounds at the Southern Cal 36-yard line.  On the next play, Trojans' RB Paul DiLulo fumbled & the Huskies recovered.  Late in the quarter, Adams threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to TE Hoby Brenner that was called back as the Trojans were penalized for being offsides.  More importantly, Adams was lost for the game & season when he injured his right knee.  Southern Cal's PK Eric Hipp’s 35-yard field goal tied the game at 3-3 on the last play of the 2^nd quarter.  In the 3^rd quarter, Horton’s 73-yard return gave the Huskies a 10-3 advantage.  Caldwell’s second interception of the game came on a pass from Southern Cal’s QB Scott Tinsley & set-up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Washington's QB Tom Flick to WR Paul Skansi giving the Huskies a 17-3 lead.  Late in the 3^rd quarter, Allen threw a halfback option pass for a 36-yard touchdown to WR Jeff Simmons keeping the Trojans within striking distance at 17-10.  Early in the 4^th quarter, Nelson converted a 34-yard field goal attempt for the final points.  Hopes for a Trojans' rally were dashed with just over 8 minutes to play when Allen left the game with numbness in his right arm & did not return.  His replacement RB Anthony Gibson fumbled at the Washington 8-yard line to end the final legitimate threat by Southern Cal.  Flick finished with 115 yards passing with a touchdown.  Adams threw for 36 yards with an interception in the 1^st half, Tinsley threw for 62 yards with 3 interceptions in the 2^nd half, while Allen rushed for 216 yards as well as throwing a touchdown pass in 3 ½ quarters of action.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Huskies finished 9-3, Pac-10 Champions & ranked 16^th nationally.  Southern Cal would play for The Belt again in 1982.