LOS ANGELES — The emotional leader of the defense was sidelined, his arm in a cast. The team’s top safety was disqualified for targeting, left to watch from the locker room. At the start of a two-week stretch that almost certainly would define USC’s season, its defense was depleted, its scant depth stretched to its limit against Washington State, an offense known for stretching the field to its maximum.
The stage was set for a letdown, with a marquee meeting at Utah looming next week. But after weeks of letting its offense take on a lead role, it was USC’s defense that drew the final curtain, pitching a second-half shutout and willing the Trojans past Washington State in a 30-14 victory on Saturday night at the Coliseum.
Sixth-ranked USC improved to 6-0 for the first time since 2006, when Pete Carroll still roamed the sideline. It had its defense to thank for that.
