Happy Monday Dawg fans, and welcome to today’s Dots.
The best way to move on from a disappointing loss the previous week was for the Dawgs to shellac cellar-dwelling Purdue, and that’s just what they did Saturday evening to the tune of 49-13 before one of this season’s smaller crowds. Even better to showcase the future of Husky football, with UW’s youth movement gaining steam as the season progresses.
The Huskies #1 receiver and running back both sat out with injuries, Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman’s absences allowing players even further down the depth chart the opportunity to contribute. And contribute they did. Boston’s absence perhaps drove Demond Williams Jr. to look around the field more than he would with the bell cow WR#1 playing.
After two shaky drives to start the game, the Husky offense hit its stride, scoring TDs on 6 consecutive drives and keeping the Boilermakers without a TD until after Demond gave way to backup QB Kai Horton in the 4th quarter. UW’s seven TD drives averaged 7 plays and 74 yards. There were only four penalties on UW (two for Unsportsmanlike) and no offsides on the O-Line.
I’ve been waiting for Jordan Washington to get real playing time. Washington ascended to RB#2 with Coleman’s injury, and showcased his speed on a 68yd TD run. It’s been a while since I recall seeing a Husky RB outrun the entire defense en route to the endzone. Take away that scamper and Washington still impressed with 40 yards on 4 carries, totaling 108 yards for the night — UW’s first 100-yd performance by a RB since Coleman against UC Davis 2+ months ago.
Audric Harris had a 61yd TD catch with two steps on the nearest defender. Decker DeGraaf and Omari Evans combined for 8 catches for 151 yards. Quaid Carr and Ryken Moon got snaps at RB. And John Mills moved to right tackle so Paki Finau could hold down the left guard spot, while Champ Taulealea split right guard duties with Geirean Hatchett.
Zaydrius Rainey-Sale is the real deal folks, and doesn’t look like a freshman either while playing or just standing still. And when your top 3 tacklers on the stat sheet are all inside linebackers, your defense is having a good one.
A trip to the Rose Bowl awaits the Huskies this coming weekend, potentially UCLA’s last conference game ever at the storied football arena. Saturday’s contest is perhaps the last opportunity for the Huskies to flip the script both on their road performances this season, and a long trend of tough luck playing the Bruins in Pasadena.
- Christian Caple, On Montlake: “The Day After: Final thoughts from Washington’s 49-13 win over Purdue” On freshman WR Raiden Vines-Bright’s frightening injury: ”The postgame update on Vines-Bright was about as encouraging as you could have hoped for. Fisch said the stretcher and ambulance were precautionary, and that Vines-Bright was mobile and responsive on the field.“
- Mike Vorel, Seattle Times: “What UW’s blowout win says about Huskies’ future“
- Dan Raley: “Taulealea Played Like A Champ Against Purdue“
- Volleyball — “Dawgs Outlast ‘Cats Behind Sharp Offense“, gohuskies.com
DIY POLL
With our digital poll generator offline, we’re going back to old-fashioned paper ballots. Leave your answer in the comments below (and watch for hanging chads)..
Does UW’s home/away record this season makes you feel… [pick the MOST correct answer]
- more pessimistic about a road win against UCLA
- more optimistic about a home win against Oregon
- Jedd Fisch should have been fired on the tarmac in Wisconsin
Go Dawgs!!