By Khalid Bennett
Sport Editor
The University of Washington Huskies started their 2016 campaign in glorious fashion on the shores of Lake Washington as they opened the season with a 48-13 win over Rutgers.
It didn’t take long for the Huskies to show that they are ready to live up to the lofty preseason hype they received from both local and national media, as they posted 24 unanswered first-quarter points. The fourth most points scored in the 1st quarter of a game in school history.
UW quarterback Jake Browning led the first quarter barrage as he threw three touchdown passes in the quarter, including two to junior receiver John Ross (38, 50 yards), who returned to the team after missing the 2015 season with a knee injury. Sophomore receiver Chico McClatcher scored on a 43-yard touchdown to get everything started on the Huskies opening drive. Ross also added a 92-yard kick off return for a touchdown that gave him his 5th play of 90 or more yards in his Husky career.
The defense for Washington did not disappoint as they held Rutgers to only 117 total yards and just 3 points in the first half. The Washington defense was able to get to Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano for 3 first half sacks.
Husky Linebackers Keishawn Bierria and Victor Azeem, who led the Husky defense in tackles as one of the nation’s top scoring defenses last year, were able to continue imposing their will on opposing offenses as the Huskies held Rutgers to just 13 points on the day. Almost 6 points below last year’s average of 18.8 points given up per game.
“We wanted Rutgers with a zero by their name and we didn’t get that” said Bierria after the game. “That’s what we do on defense, we want to bring that high energy, guys want to have fun, run around and hit people, that’s what we try to do.”
“We like to have fun but at same time, we know we have a job to do,” added Bierria.
UW’s Daunte Pettis added to the Huskies’ point total with a 68-yard punt return in the second half which gave Washington a kick off, and a punt return for a touchdown in a single game for the first time since 2001 and for only the third time in school history.
The 14th ranked Huskies look to improve to 2-0 next week when they face Idaho on Saturday.
Photo Highlights From UW vs Rutgers
