The final score of 28-21 tells just a fraction of Washington Huskies victory over the California Golden Bears. Washington won on the road for the first time under Kalen DeBoer. Those are a couple of the story lines of the game. Here are 10 other statistical story lines from the game:
10. The Washington Huskies and the California Golden Bears combined for 10 punts on the night. The Golden Bears possessed the ball 10 times with 7 drives ending in punts while just 3 of 10 meaningful drives by Washington ended in punts. One of Washington punter Jack McCallister punts was returned but for zero yards. He had one other punt downed at the Cal 18 yard line.
9. The Washington defense had 4 tackles for loss to go with its 5 sacks. In fact, the defense wreaked havoc with 9 tackles for loss, a QB hurry, 2 pass breakups and punishing Cal’s QB Jake Plummer on multiple occasions, knocking him around repeatedly.
8. Jalen McMillan led all Washington “takers” with 8 receptions for 81 yards. A week after going for 169 yards Rome Odunze was held to 6 receptions for 61 yards. The duo were targeted 23 times. But it was running back Richard Newton who had the best pass play of the night.
On 3rd and 2 yards to go at the Cal 36, under heavy pressure Penix found Newton on the Cal sideline all alone at the 20 yard line. Newton turned and shucked one would-be tackler at the 17, then stiff-armed another at the 10, beating him into the end zone for Washington’s final touchdown of the game.
7. The Huskies got to 28 points in a very unconventional way. Washington’s first two drives ended in field goals as they headed into the locker room with a 6-0 lead. After the Golden Bears took a 7-6 lead the Huskies went 70 yards on 11 plays to reclaim the lead 12-7. DeBoer decided to go for 2 instead to give the Huskies a 7-point margin.
Penix initially lined up in shotgun formation before sliding to his right to give the direct snap to Tualapapa who handed the ball off to Penix who faked the hand off to Jalen McMillan and fired a bullet to Ja’Lynn Polk in the corner of the end zone.
6. The Washington passing attack entered the game averaging of 380 yards per game. Cal held the Huskies 6 yards under their season average. A week after completing 82-percent of his passes Penix’s completion dropped to 70-percent completing 36 of 51 passes because of 4 official drops. If those passes had been completed and two other completions that were taken away by phantom penalties his completion percentage would be back up at 82. On the season Penix has completed 67-percent of his passes.
5. The Husky offense was able to score on 5 of its 10 meaningful drives. Peyton Henry missed his second field goal of the season, going 2 for 3 against Cal. The senior kicker is now 11 for 13 on field goals and is perfect on point after attempts, hitting on all 36.
4. Unofficially the Huskies have 25 sacks on the season, picking up 5 more against the Golden Bears by 4 different edge rushers. California QB Jake Plummer was under pressure the entire night, being sacked twice by Bralen Trice (6.5 on the season) once by Jeremiah Martin (6), Voi Tunuufi (4) and Zion Tupuola-Fetui (3.5).
3. Although the Huskies didn’t put up as many points as they have had over the course of the season, being held to a season-low of 28, they only had a single 3-and-out. On the other side of the ball the Washington defense forced three 3-and-outs. The Huskies D saved the best for last. On Cal’s final two drives the UW defense had one of the 3-and-outs then gave the ball back to the Washington offense, turning the ball over on downs on 4 plays.
2. On Cal’s third drive ESPN was busy gushing over former Cal running back Marshawn Lynch rather than have their fingers on the “BLEEP” button. Lynch was being inducted to the Golden Bears’ hall of fame along with fellow RB Justin Forsett. Lynch talked about how he’d never heard Forsett use one curse word–setting up what a moment that will go into the Twitter meme hall of fame. In the span of just a few seconds Lynch dropped two swear words, an “F Bomb” then a few seconds later he used the “S Word”.
1. Taking out the Penix’s -14 rushing yards and the one yard loss on the final play of the game in the victory formation, Washington ball carries had 28 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown. They 6 ball carries averaged a combined 4.1 yards per carry. The six were Cameron Davis 13 carries for 46 yards and a TD, Wayne Tualapapa 4-25, Richard Newton 5-18, Will Nixon 2-15, Giles Jackson 2-8, Sam Adams 2-5.
