By Khalid Bennett
Sports Editor
Senior day, the final home game of the season for the Washington Huskie was a chance to erase the disappointment of falling from the top four in the College Football Playoff after last week’s loss to Southern California. What was interesting to see was how Washington’s defense would respond after losing their leading tackler, Azeem Victor, to a season ending leg injury in last week’s contest. Arizona State came into the game struggling to say the least as they’ve lost their last four consecutive games, and five of their last six after starting the season 4-0.
The defense looked as impressive as it has all season long stopping the Sun Devils on every possession to start the game. With Victor out, the emotional leader looked to be Budda Baker as he made plays all over the field from his safety position. Baker made key tackles on the edge to thwart the Sun Devil offense as well as getting to quarterback Manny Wilkins twice in the first quarter for 1.5 sacks. Washington’s defense held Arizona State to just 11 total yards in the first quarter.
The offense was not so impressive in the opening quarter. Miscues and poor execution plagued the Huskies throughout the period. The special teams unit was able to cause a fumble on a punt return by Arizona State senior receiver Tim White giving Washington the ball at the ASU 11. Unable to push the ball across the goal line, Washington had to settle for a field goal.
The next offensive possession for the Huskies ended with an interception by sophomore corner back Kareem Orr. A second interception thrown by Jake Browning came early in the second quarter and it looked as if the Sun Devils were going to score, but a block in the back took away the touchdown. With Arizona State on the doorstep of the goal line, the defense came up big just as they have done all season long. Senior Kevin King was able to make a spectacular one hand interception in the end zone dowsing the hopes of a Sun Devil score.
The defensive stop by the Huskies’ seemed to wake up the offense. Where they did not look crisp in the first quarter, the second quarter was much different. After the turnover by King, Jake Browning hit wide receiver Chico McClatcher for a 75-yard touchdown on just the second play giving Washington a 10-0 lead. Browning continued to get more comfortable as the half went on. His second touchdown pass of the night came on a 46-yard strike to Daunte Pettis making the score 17-0. After another Sun Devil three and out, Browning engineered a 7 play, 62 yard drive in which he completed 6 consecutive passes capped off by a 1-yard run by running back Lavon Coleman giving the Huskies a 24-0 lead to end the first half.
Jake Browning stayed hot in the second half completing 13 passes in a row going back to the second quarter.
Arizona State’s defense held the Huskies to a pair of field goals but with a 30 point lead, the Sun Devils had to start moving the ball on the stout Husky defense which seemed more unlikely with each minute that passed. The Husky defense forced 8 punts on the day and held Arizona State to just 245 total yards. Arizona State scored two late touchdowns to close the gap, but so did Washington. Myles Gaskin was able to break a 45 yard run to make the score 37-11.
After the Sun Devils scored on a 87 yard drive capped off by a 6 yard touchdown pass from Wilkins to wide receiver Jay Jay Wilson, middle linebacker Keishawn Bierria snatched an onside kick and took it the distance for another Washington touchdown putting the game out of reach. The 44-18 victory by the Huskies sets up an Apple Cup next week in Pullman that will determine the Pac-12 north division winner.
Pictorial Highlights of Washington vs Arizona State
Photos by Aaron Allen
