Matt Barkley has had an impressive first half, despite an early interception (Jerry Ting/Neon Tommy)

The USC defense and special teams are winning the day so far in Seattle. The Trojans have sacked Washington QB Keith Price four times, including 2.5 sacks from Morgan Breslin, and special teamer Anthony Brown blocked and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Trojans' performance can be summed up in one word: balance. Matt Barkley and Silas Redd are sharing the load on offense, boasting 101 passing yards and 108 rushing yards respectively. Barkley is 7-for-10 with one TD and one INT, while Redd is averaging nine yards per carry on 12 carries with one TD. 

Redd set the tone early with a 57-yard scamper on USC's first play from scrimmage. Redd was met by a large cluster of Husky defensive lineman and his own offensive line, but bounced off the crowd, fooling the cameraman, and turned the corner. The Trojans couldn't capitalize though and took an early 3-0 lead off of a short Andre Heidari FG.  

Dion Bailey recorded his fourth interception of the season with an acrobatic back-shoulder snipe of Huskies QB Keith Price's errant pass. 

Just two plays after that, Redd ran in his first touchdown of the night, an aggressive 11-yard counter off the right side, putting the Trojans up 10-0 less than five minutes in. 

Matt Barkley continued his struggles with turnovers when he threw an ill-advised interception at mid-field halfway throughout the first. 

The pick led to a Keith Price TD pass to Kasen Williams, cutting the Trojan lead to 10-7.

Barkley and the USC offense drove right back down the field, connecting with Robert Woods and Marquise Lee for gains of double-digit yardage, pounding the ball again with Redd, and capping it off with a laser from Barkley to TE Xavier Grimble, who ran a perfect 18-yard post pattern for a touchdown. USC went up 17-7 with the extra point. 

After two consecutive three-and-outs by the Husky offense, CB Brown blocked the subsequent Husky punt and after fumbling around with it for two seconds, fully recovered the ball and ran it back five yards, giving the Trojans the 24-7 lead they would take into the half. 

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Fun Fact #1: With that early Heidari FG, USC set their own school record by scoring in a 187 straight games. Not that that's something to write home about, but it's definitely something.

Fun Fact #2: Lane Kiffin switched up his wardrobe for the potentially wet environment in Seattle. He stuck with his white pullover and, of course, the visor, but he sported a pair of baggy red sweatpants, possibly rainproof. We'll have more as this story develops... 

Reach Associate Sports Editor Jeremy Bergman via e-mail or follow him on Twitter.