The Washington Huskies won the 117th Apple Cup by dominating the Washington State Cougars' defense. The Huskies offense, which is led by a talented 'Big Three' in quarterback Demond Williams Jr., running back Jonah Coleman and wide receiver Denzel Boston, has been tormenting defenders to begin the 2025 season.
The Huskies offense totalled 473 total yards and seven touchdowns en route to a dominant 59-24 win. Most of those yards came by way of Williams Jr., who completed 16 of 19 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns to earn a near-perfect QBR of 99.3. He also led the team in rushing, tallying 88 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
“Demond is sensational,” head coach Jedd Fisch said postgame. “I think a lot of the country saw what Demond can do today.”
The sophomore quarterback has been nearly perfect in each of the Huskies’ three pre-conference games. His average QBR of 93.6 ranks second nationally behind only USC’s Jayden Maiava’s 94.3. Williams Jr. also ranks fourth in passing yards per attempt (11.4) and seventh in completion percentage (73.5%).
“He’s super special,” Fisch said. “I can’t wait to see him keep getting better.”
Williams Jr. has been sensational, but the heart of this year’s Huskies offense has been running back Jonah Coleman. Although the Cougars contained Coleman (12 carries, 59 yards) to some extent on Saturday, the senior running back was still able to punch in two rushing scores.
Coleman’s been a true gamebreaker for the Dawgs so far. Despite last week’s bye, Coleman leads the nation with nine rushing touchdowns. He’s got a gap behind him, too. Only three other rushers have managed even seven touchdowns.
Saturday also saw Coleman make his mark as a receiver. He picked up 45 yards following a wild Williams Jr. scramble in the second quarter, and later took a screen pass for a 34-yard touchdown in the fourth.
Coleman’s tally of six receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown was only narrowly outdone by Boston’s. The redshirt junior receiver finished with six receptions for 107 yards and two scores.
Boston’s first touchdown, a 29-yarder, came on the Huskies’ first drive via a perfectly placed back shoulder fade which the receiver pulled down in the front corner of the endzone. Boston scored again in the fourth quarter, leaping above helpless Cougars cornerback Kenny Worthy III to come down with a seven-yard touchdown.
“We [understood] that [the Cougars] were gonna do some things to try to take Denzel away, but Denzel’s a really good player,” Fisch said. “He was able to adjust to some of the coverage schemes and make some plays.”
Offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty’s unit ranks second nationally in points per game (55.7). His Dawgs are currently averaging 536 yards per game, which is the nation’s ninth-highest average. Thanks to Coleman and Williams Jr., the Huskies’ rushing average of 260 yards per game also ranks as the nation’s ninth-best.
The Huskies’ offense is rolling. Williams Jr. has been a magician, Coleman has been a touchdown machine, and Boston has been a gamebreaker. However, they’re about to face perhaps their toughest-ever test.
The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes possess perhaps the nation’s best defense. Ohio State and BYU are currently tied for the nation’s fewest points allowed per game with 5.3, and the Buckeyes are also allowing the sixth-fewest passing yards per game (118.3).
The two will face off inside Husky Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 12:30 p.m. PST. If the Huskies want to extend their 20-game home winning streak, it’ll likely come down to the ‘Big Three’ of Williams Jr., Coleman and Boston.