Coach Jim Sweeney’s 1-3 Washington State Cougars came to Los Angeles to battle with the champion Southern Cal Trojans coached by John McKay. The 4th ranked Trojans stood at 3-0-1 & were making their 5th Belt defense. The Cougars had never beaten Southern Cal in conference play & this Washington State team’s defense had allowed at least 20 points to each opponent. Southern Cal’s QB Pat Haden threw 4 touchdown passes as the Trojans won the highest scoring Belt game to date with a 46-35 victory over Washington State. The Cougars took the lead midway through the 1st quarter when RB Andrew Jones scored on a 1-yard touchdown run giving Washington State a surprising 7-0 lead. Southern Cal responded with 2 touchdown passes from Haden. All-Pac 8 TE Jim Obradovich caught a 31-yard touchdown pass & All-American WR Lynn Swann caught a 29-yard touchdown pass as the Trojans took a 14-7 lead into the 2nd quarter. Washington State’s QB Wally Bennett tied the game with a 2-yard touchdown run before Southern Cal’s PK Chris Limahelu put the Trojans ahead 17-14 with a 19-yard field goal. Jones’ 4-yard touchdown run late in the 2nd quarter gave the Cougars a 21-17 halftime lead. Southern Cal’s All-Pac 8 RB Anthony Davis accounted for the only points of the 3rd quarter with a 14-yard touchdown run as the Trojans took the lead, 24-21, midway through the quarter. Early in the 4th quarter, Southern Cal pushed the lead to 31-21 as RB Allen Carter scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. Haden’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Swann seemed to seal the win as the Trojans took a 38-21 lead but the fireworks were just starting. Washington State’s QB Chuck Peck scored on a 1-yard touchdown run giving the Cougars hope as the closed to within 10 points at 38-28 with 5:50 to play. When the next Washington State series stalled, Cougars’ RB Ron Cheatham speared Swann as the Southern Cal WR tried to return a punt. The hit started a brawl at midfield with both sides emptying their benches. After order was restored, Haden hit WR Dean Ligenfelter for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Agitated by the late hit, McKay had his team covert a 2-point play giving the Trojans a 46-28 lead. Peck’s 7-yard touchdown pass to WR Fritz Brayton with just 0:13 to play finished the scoring. Haden finished with 245 yards passing with his 4 touchdowns but 2 interceptions, Davis added 102 yards rushing to his score, & Swann had 10 catches for 148 yards with his 2 touchdowns. For Washington State, Bennett completed just 1 of 9 passes for just 11 yards with 3 interceptions while Peck threw for 79 yards with a touchdown. Southern Cal finished the season 9-2-1; Pac-8 Champions & ranked 8th nationally while the Cougars finished the season 5-6, closing with 4 straight wins. Washington State would play for The Belt again in 1977.
Pickin' Splinters
Rochester's Independent Sports Source
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