Takeaway
Myles Gaskin ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns, Jake Browning threw for 326 and two scores, and Washington, after a slow offensive start, erupted for 28 second-quarter points to bury Sacramento State of the Big Sky Conference 49-0 Saturday afternoon at Husky Stadium (box). Washington (1-1) received an equally outstanding effort by its defense, recording the school’s biggest shutout victory in a home opener since a 55-0 thumping of Texas El Paso in 1982, and its first since a 26-0 win over Northwestern in 1984.
Essential moment
With Washington breezing 21-0 and two minutes remaining in the second quarter, Browning, a freshman from Granite Bay, CA., in his second career start, took the Huskies on a 90-yard, two-minute march by completing all five passes, including throws of 30 and 23 yards to TE Joshua Perkins. Browning didn’t factor in the touchdown play — Dwayne Washington tallied from a yard out — but his impressive drive effectively ended Sacramento State’s day.
Offense
A freshman from Seattle’ O’Dea High School, Gaskin scored on runs of 3 and 16 yards in the second quarter as Washington built a 14-0 lead, and added a 78-yard romp in the third as the Huskies extended the margin to 49-0. Gaskin averaged 10.4 yards per touch.
Browning completed 17 of 24 although he nearly had two picked off. His first TD pass, 78 yards, skipped off a defender’s hands and into the clutches of Marvin Hall, who had clear sailing to the end zone. Browning’s second, 49 yards to freshman Chico McClatcher, gave UW a 42-0 lead and ended Browning’s day.
With Dwayne Washington adding two TDs runs and eight receivers collecting Browning’s throws, the Huskies rolled up 544 yards, including 212 rushing after a dismal 29-yard effort against Boise State last week.
Defense
The Huskies nearly had their shutout spoiled with nine minutes remaining when the Hornets strip-sacked backup quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels and recovered at the UW four-yard line. But aided by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, UW pushed Sac State out of touchdown range, then Brad Cornish had his 48-yard field goal attempt snuffed.
Washington held Sacramento State to 212 yards, only 11 rushing, as the Hornets averaged 0.4 yards per carry. Cornish also missed a 44-yard attempt in the first quarter. Washington pitched the shutout despite Sacramento State leading the time of possession, 33:51 to 26:09.
Noteworthy
The Huskies, meeting the Hornets for the first time, improved to 21-1-1 against current members of the Big Sky Conference and to 91-28-5 all-time in home openers . . . Washington is 12-2 over its past 14 non-league home games and has a 10-game winning streak in such contests . . . Washington had only three penalties for 30 yards.
Next
Washington plays the second of three consecutive home games at 2 p.m. Saturday against Utah State ( Pac-12 Networks).
1 Comment
This is a game that the Huskies should win easily and they did. Jake looked very good in his first game on Montlake. How long before everyone starts calling him Montlake Jake II? Nice that they got a shutout instead of giving up a TD late in the game.