Huskies prove potential in 49-13 victory over Purdue, albeit with some mixed feelings

Without offensive stars Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman, the Washington Huskies' Saturday matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers felt like a preview for what the future of the program would look like -- the roster's younger stars needing to step into bigger roles.

Coming of an embarrassing loss to a poor Wisconsin team, it could've been a scary display, but instead, a massive victory sparked plenty of optimism -- although it also invoked a feeling of, "what could've been?"

Adam Mohammed, pressed into a larger role with Coleman sidelined, showcased exactly why Washington has reason to be excited about its young talent. The sophomore running back scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns, breaking into the end zone from one yard out twice in the first half and adding a 5-yard touchdown run just before halftime.

Mohammed entered the evening with only two career touchdowns, both earlier this season, but on Saturday, he proved he could carry the load in a high-pressure situation. He finished the game with 59 yards on 17 carries, as well as a single reception that went for 27 yards.

Washington’s defense, under defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, formerly Purdue's head coach, also turned heads. In particular, freshman linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, Washington's top recruit from the class of 2025, had a breakout performance.

On a Purdue drive starting from excellent field position early in the first quarter, Rainey-Sale helped stuff a fourth-and-1 attempt, setting the tone for the Huskies’ defense. Later in the second quarter, he intercepted a Purdue pass, which led to a Washington touchdown just one play later when redshirt freshman Jordan Washington took a handoff 68 yards to the house on the ensuing offensive possession.

Those plays helped give the Huskies a 28-0 lead going into the locker room, as they finally shed the demons of playing down to their opponent and getting off to slow starts. It was a form we've known Washington could hit all year.

That form bled into the second half, as sophomore wide receiver Audric Harris also made the most of a rare opportunity. It was his first playing time since the Apple Cup, and he didn’t waste it, hauling in a 61-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Demond Williams Jr. at the start of the third quarter.

Williams would toss in another touchdown to freshman wideout Dezmen Roebuck later in the third quarter to make it 42-3, and from there, backup quarterback Kai Horton would take the remaining snaps with the game locked up.

After trying to do too much in Washington's loss last week, Williams went back to basics for an outstanding performance in this one, even if it wasn't as flashy as we're used to. He finished the game completing 16 of his 19 pass attempts for 257 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions -- demonstrating poise and efficiency even without his top receiver.

On the ground, his longest rush was only for seven yards, but still had positive production with 23 total on seven carries. On multiple occasions, he cleverly made the decision to stay patient in the pocket rather than trying to do everything himself with a scramble -- which obviously paid off on the scoreboard.

With Williams, Mohammed, Rainey-Sale, Harris, Washington, and Roebuck all being sophomores or freshmen and leading the team to a victory, it provided much-needed hope for Husky fans after the devastating loss the week before. You can even throw sophomore tight end Decker DeGraaf into that mix, who led the Huskies with five receptions for 91 yards.

However, the bright spot of Washington’s youth movement was dampened by a scary moment early in the game when freshman wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright had to be taken off the field in an ambulance following a hit to his head and neck area. The play cut short what could have been another glimpse of the Huskies’ emerging talent.

Thankfully, reports after the game confirmed that Vines-Bright has recovered, fully aware and able to move his extremities, but the incident was still a tense and frightening moment for teammates, coaches, and fans alike.

Additionally, the tremendous performance without key players like Coleman and Boston made last week’s loss to Wisconsin sting even more. A dominant showing against Purdue highlighted just how much the Huskies could have accomplished had they played that way in Madison, a game that effectively knocked Washington out of College Football Playoff contention.

Ultimately, the 49-13 win over Purdue was still a positive reminder of Washington’s potential, showcasing emerging stars across the roster and solidifying confidence in the program’s young talent. The Huskies now prepare for next week’s matchup at UCLA, who is 3-7, with a season finale against Oregon the following weekend at Husky Stadium.