Washington Football Gets What They Need
Things looked dire for Washington Football for a little while but they got the help they need, so what’s next?
Thank you Washington State!! Probably the first and last time Washington football fans will ever say that, but it applies. Their 34-20 victory over Oregon gives the Huskies the shot they need to get to the Rose Bowl. Washington needs to do one thing, in the words of Al Davis, “Just win, baby!”
Beating Colorado
Washington got a huge boost from the usual suspect, Ben Burr-Kirven in the victory against Colorado. BBK had 15 tackles with a pass defensed and the game-sealing interception. The Buffaloes were dealt a big blow before the game, learning that their All-American receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. was out with turf toe. Myles Gaskin wasn’t available either after a full warmup. But the Huskies offense was able to get going on the ground, with five rushers combining for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Salvon Ahmed continued his great season with nine carries for 73 yards and a touchdown, while Kamari Pleasant and Sean McGrew both had solid days, and proved they can be efficient ball carriers next season when Gaskin departs.
One of the biggest positive takeaways from the game is that the Huskies were finally able to get consistent penetration in the backfield, managing a sack and five total tackles for loss. If the defense can continue to get penetration and put consistent pressure on the quarterback like they did with Steven Montez, this Husky team is hard to stop. Ryan Bowman was a force yesterday, recording 7 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, but it was the plays that don’t show up in the stat sheet where he made the biggest impact. He didn’t manage a sack, but he was constantly forcing Montez to roll out of the pocket and he forced multiple throwaways.
They Didn’t Coug It
Things looked dire for a while in Pullman in the second half. After a dominant first half, it seemed like Oregon could do whatever they wanted offensively, and WSU might actually blow a 27-0 lead. But thankfully they didn’t, and now the Huskies control their own destiny. Looking ahead, the Huskies travel to Cal for a tough matchup with the Bears. This is a huge game for the Huskies, and it’s the last time they’ll have to leave home before the Apple Cup.
Looking Ahead
After Cal, Stanford comes to town. This Stanford team has been very confusing and incredibly up and down. Bryce Love has dealt with injuries, and this Cardinal team doesn’t have the same feel of some of the teams in years past. Then Washington gets a bye week before a matchup with the lowly Oregon State Beavers. And after that comes the Apple Cup. The Huskies do have a legitimate shot to win out and still make the Pac-12 championship. A Rose Bowl birth would be an awesome final game for Jake Browning, and hopefully, he can make it there for his final game.