Well… there are many different things that can be used to describe the 2021 Apple Cup game itself, but the term I found to be the most fitting is a microcosm of the season as a whole. Frustrating play calling on both sides of the ball, adjustments not being made, and bad drops.

Sam Huard’s first career start could’ve gone many different ways, and unfortunately for Husky fans, it did not go well. There were multiple drops, the coaching staff couldn’t make up their minds on whether to unleash him or play it safe, and it was confusing to try and figure out what the game plan was. Huard ended the game with four interceptions, plus a fifth on a two-point conversion attempt, and was 17-31 with 190 yards passing. On the plus side (to try to find it), the young freshman showed great chemistry with Ja’Lynn Polk, and Rome Odunze made the catch of the year for Huard’s first career touchdown pass.

Senior running back Sean McGrew had some high praise for Huard after the game, “I think this is the only Apple Cup he’s going to lose… he’s a baller and he’s going to come back strong next year.”

As bad as it was watching the offense, it was almost worse to watch the defense. As Jimmy Lake once said, “They do the same thing year in and year out… it makes it really easy to game plan for an offense when they do the same thing year in and year out.” Well, that’s exactly what happened to the Husky defense. It was called just like every year where Mike Leach was calling the WSU offense. Three-man front, soft coverage, and the Cougars just took what they were given all night long. Max Borghi ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and Jayden De Laura threw for 245 yards, the second-highest total Washington’s defense allowed this season, while only missing five throws on the day.

4-8. I wouldn’t have believed anyone who told me this would’ve been the outcome of the year before it started. This is still the most individually talented Husky team I’ve ever seen, and it’s going to look very different in 2022…