Washington breaks through for a 36-yard touchdown against Cal. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

It was a dark and stormy night. Rain drenched the 72,516 sell-out crowd. The ball was water-logged. Fumbles were lost. Tackles were slipped. The field was slick. And Cal’s defense again and again saw a dark figure pounding out of the backfield. Guess who?

For the Bear-D the game went a little something like this: See Chauncey Washington. See Chauncey Washington run. See Chauncey Washington run past you. Wave goodbye to Chauncey Washington. Step and Repeat.

#12 USC Drowned #24 CAL, 24-17

Yes Tailback-U became “Tailback-W” as Washington was the only really effective Trojan tailback. Although integral, don’t let Stafon Johnson’s game winning 3-yard touchdown fool you. McKnight and Johnson showed minimal productivity, totaling 9-rushing yards each for the entire game. Meanwhile Chauncey Washington worked like a freight-train knocking everyone in his path, often carrying Cal-tacklers with him, as he amassed a career high 220 yards and a touchdown. Ronald Johnson again showed his flare on special teams, taking four kick-returns a total of 102 yards with a 41-yard long.

Booty was 11/22 for 129 yards with the Trojans’ first touchdown of the game to fullback Stanley Havili. The rain likely accounted for the limited passing. Still Booty threw no interceptions for the second game in a row, although he did fumble three-times due to the slippery conditions, recovering the ball twice and losing it to Cal once. Sturdy Fred Davis and Vidal Hazelton each caught four of Booty’s passes for about 50-yards a piece. Patrick Turner (13-yards), Joe McKnight (7-yards), and Stanley Havili (5-yards) caught a single pass each, although Havili’s did go in for a touchdown.

Cal put up some big numbers too, actually gaining more total yards than USCBears’-399 to the Trojans’ -368. Running back Justin Forsett took the brunt of the work, amassing 164 yards on the ground and another 45 through the air for the Bears. Cal quarterback Nate Longshore was 13/29 for 199 yards and a touchdown. Wide-receiver and once Heisman hopeful Desean Jackson was no real threat, limited by the Trojan defense and the weather to only 64-yds. Cal receivers Lavelle Hawkins (53-yds), and Robert Jordan (36-yds) mainly caught the rest of Longshore passes, although ultimately the passes intercepted by USC’s Kevin Ellison and Terrell Thomas (with 2:37 left to play) sealed Cal’s rain drowned fate.

*Stats from ESPN-U