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Washington State Cougars |
Southern Cal Trojans © |
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Played September 30, 1977 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, California |
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Teams' Belt Records
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Team |
Belt Reigns |
Overall Record |
Home Record |
Away Record |
Neutral Record |
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W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
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| Washington State | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | ||||||||
| Southern Cal © | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 | .893 | 5 | 0 | 1 | .900 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Previous Belt Meetings
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Washington State |
35 | |
| Southern Cal © | 46 |
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
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Washington State |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
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Southern Cal |
7 |
17 |
17 |
0 |
41 |
The 2nd ranked, 3-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson prepared to meet the 2-1 Washington State Cougars of coach Warren Powers who had claimed road wins over Nebraska & Michigan State. Southern Cal’s All-Pac 8 RB Charles White & RB Dwight Ford each rushed for 2 touchdowns as the Trojans jumped to a 24-0 lead on their way to a 41-7 rout of the Cougars. Late in the 1st quarter, Southern Cal put together an 11-play, 74-yard drive with Ford carrying the final 14 yards for the touchdown. In the 2nd quarter, the Trojans went 68 yards in 14 plays highlighted by a 23-yard pass from QB Rob Hertel to WR Randy Simmrin as Southern Cal faced a 3rd & 10 from the Washington State 30-yard line. White finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run giving the Trojans a 14-0 lead. On the ensuing kick-off, Southern Cal's LB Steve O’Gray recovered a fumble from Washington State's WR Tyrone Gray giving the Trojans the ball again at the Washington State 21-yard line. The Trojans were unable to get into the end zone but PK Frank Jordan kicked a 24-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead. Late in the quarter, Ford broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run for a 24-0 Southern Cal lead. The 3rd quarter was more of the same for the Trojans as RB Lynn Cain returned a punt to the Washington State 48-yard line & on the next play, Hertel connected with Simmrin for the 48-yard touchdown pass. Jordan’s 21-yard field goal came after a 16-play drive which took up most of the quarter & shortly after, Southern Cal's LB Ed Gutierrez recovered a fumble from Washington State's RB Ray Williams at the Washington State 49-yard line. Seven plays later, White scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run giving the Trojans a 41-0 lead entering the 4th quarter. The Cougars averted the shutout when QB Jack Thompson, “The Throwin’ Samoan”, threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to WR Brian Kelly with just 3:59 left in the game. Hertel finished with 182 yards passing with a touchdown, Ford added 118 yards rushing to his 2 touchdowns, & White rushed for 128 yards with his 2 scores while the Trojans' defense forced 5 turnovers. Thompson threw for 136 yards with a touchdown & 2 interceptions in the loss. Southern Cal finished the season 8-4 while the Cougars finished 7-4. Washington State would play for The Belt again in 1979.
