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Southern Cal Trojans © |
Washington State Cougars |
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Played October 30, 2004 at Martin Stadium Pullman, Washington |
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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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| Southern Cal © | 9 | 52 | 10 | 3 | .823 | 23 | 3 | 2 | .857 | 22 | 6 | 1 | .776 | 7 | 1 | 0 | .875 |
| Washington State | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 0 | 5 | 0 | .000 | ||||
Previous Belt Meetings
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
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Southern Cal |
21 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
42 |
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Washington State |
0 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
12 |
The 3-4 Washington State Cougars of coach Bill Doba welcomed to Pullman the top-ranked, 7-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach Pete Carroll hoping to end the 7-game reign of The Belt champions. The Cougars had held The Belt only once & had a 2-7 record in Belt games with 3 of the losses coming at the hands of the Trojans. This battle was never in doubt at Southern Cal scored the first 42 points on their way to a 42-12 victory. Trojans' Heisman Trophy winning, All-American QB Matt Leinart threw for 235 yards with 2 touchdowns, both to WR Dwayne Jarrett. Southern Cal's running backs were just as dominate as RB LenDale White added 2 scores & All-Pac 10 RB Reggie Bush scored a rushing touchdown as well as returned a punt 57 yards for another touchdown. The Trojans took control from the outset as Bush took a sweep around the right end for a 19-yard touchdown. The Cougars mishandled the ensuing kick-off & Southern Cal recovered at the Washington State 21-yard line. After a pass interference penalty against the Cougars, White carried in from a yard for a 14-0 lead just 2:38 into the game. Bush's punt return for a score came midway through the 1st quarter for a 21-0 Trojans' lead. Early in the 2nd quarter, Leinart connected with Jarrett on a 42-yard touchdown pass as the lead increased to 28-0. When Southern Cal's All-American DT Shaun Cody sacked Washington State's QB Alex Brink & forced a fumble, Trojans' All-Pac 10 DT Mike Patterson recovered at the Cougars' 18-yard line. It took 5 plays before White scored the touchdown on a 7-yard run for 35-0 halftime edge. Leinart opened the 3rd quarter with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett giving Southern Cal a 42-0 lead. Trojans' back-up QB Matt Cassel fumbled to set-up Washington State's first score with Brink throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to WR Michael Bumpus. On the next drive, Cassel threw an interception that Cougars' LB Pat Bennett returned 28 yards for the final points. Southern Cal's defense again shined holding the Cougars to –9 yards rushing, claiming 4 turnovers & sacking Brink 5 times. The leading rusher for the Cougars turned out to be P Kyle Basler who ran 17 yards on a fake punt. Southern Cal finished the season 11-0 which does not include 2 wins that were vacated by the NCAA as Bush was ruled ineligible for the final 2 games of the season; Pac 10 Champions & National Champions while the Cougars finished 5-6. Washington State would play for The Belt again in 2005.
