By Khalid Bennett, The Seattle Medium
In their first night game of the season, the Washington Huskies welcomed the California Bears to kick off the PAC-12 conference schedule. This matchup held added significance as both teams are set to move to different conferences next season, making it the last time this game would be a conference showdown.
Washington entered the game with one of the most potent offenses in the country, but they faced a formidable challenge in the form of the stingy Cal defense, which had given the Huskies trouble in recent years. However, in this game, it was the Husky defense that stole the spotlight early on.
The Husky defense pounced on Cal from the outset, setting the tone for the game. Senior linebacker Ed Ulofoshio ignited the crowd with an interception return for a touchdown, kickstarting an avalanche of scoring for Washington. All-American wide receiver Rome Odunze followed suit with an electrifying 83-yard punt return touchdown, the first of his three trips to the end zone in this game.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took the field with a comfortable two-touchdown lead and wasted no time extending it. He connected with Ja’Lynn Polk for an 8-yard touchdown pass, showcasing Washington’s unstoppable offense. The Huskies piled up an impressive 45-12 lead by halftime, scoring 27 points on their next five offensive possessions.
Penix had a standout performance, finishing the game with 304 passing yards and four touchdowns.
When asked about the offensive explosion, defensive back Mich Powell said, “It’s just great to be a witness to it. It’s great to be a part of it.”
While Cal managed to put some points on the board in the second half, Washington continued to dominate. The Huskies also took the opportunity to give valuable game experience to their younger players. Local talent Sam Adams II contributed to the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run, further solidifying Washington’s 59-32 victory over Cal.
With this convincing win, the Huskies improved their season record to 4-0, including a 1-0 start in the PAC-12 conference. Next up, Washington heads to Tucson for another conference showdown with the 3-1 Arizona Wildcats.
