By Khalid Bennett
The Seattle Medium
In the second home game of the season for the Washington Huskies, the points weren’t as plentiful as in the previous week against Sacramento State, at least in the first quarter. Utah State came into Husky Stadium with a 1-1 record after suffering a tough loss to their in-state rival Utah the previous week. This game was the second consecutive game for the Aggies against a Pac-12 opponent and for Washington it was their second game facing a Mountain West team this season.
After scoring 49 points in last week’s home opener, this one looked to be a tough defensive battle, as both teams averaged less than 4 yards per play in the first quarter and the Huskies held on to a 3-0 lead going into the second period.
The offense picked up for both teams in the second quarter with Washington scoring on an 81-yard pass play from true freshman quarterback Jake Browning, who finished the game with 386 yards and three touchdowns, to Dwayne Washington as the Huskies took a 10-0 lead early in the period.
Utah State came right back with a 60-yard kick off return which set up their fist score of the day, a 22-yard field goal to make it a 7 point game 10-3 in favor of the Huskies.
Washington’s next drive stalled at the Utah State 2 yard line and the field goal unit set up for what looked to be a chip shot to take a 10-point lead. However, the ball was snapped directly to kicker Tristan Vizcaino who took it for a two-yard touchdown on the fake giving Washington a 17-3 lead.
Utah State was able to mount a scoring drive just before the end of the half to make the score 17-10 at the half.
The second half saw the defenses step up once again as both Washington and Utah State threw interceptions on their opening drives. However, Browning was able to settle down and put together a scoring drive that went for 78 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown pass to Washington, the duo’s second touchdown of the day. Browning’s third touchdown pass came with five minutes left in the quarter as he rolled out to the right and was able to find tight end Drew Sample for a three yard pass giving the Huskies a 31-10 lead in the game.
The final period featured a bizarre sequence in which the longest interception return in Washington school history by Brandon Beaver did not result in a score.
Instead, two plays later Washington fumbled the football and it was returned 95 yards for a Utah State touchdown making the score 31-17 which ended up being the final.
Washington, who improved to 2-1 on the season, will play their third home game in a row and open their Pac-12 schedule next week against the California Golden Bears.
Pictorial Highlights of UW – Utah St.
