In the sea of purple-clad fans there were hundreds of father and son duos.  In the midst of it all, there was a unique pairing.    They’re not your typical Husky fans, some of whom traveled to Husky Stadium from California to experience the game.  It was Washington tight-end commit Decker DeGraaf and his dad in the middle of it all.

Growing up in Glendora, California, just 23 miles due east of the Rose Bowl, he witnessed plenty of football games with his dad.  But he’s never been a part of what transpired in Saturday’s 36-33 victory by Washington over the Oregon Ducks.

“When the field goal missed the uprights and the place erupted,” he recollected.  “Everyone rushed the field.”

Including Decker himself.  He bolted for the field with the other 15-20,000 fans–in tow, was his dad.

“That was awesome, one of the best experiences I’ve had,” he said about his entire experience, but specifically being able to share it with his dad.  “I didn’t think I’d ever get the opportunity to (rush the field with my dad).”

But when he decided to join the masses on the field he didn’t even have to think twice if his dad would be following him there.  And they were some of the first onto the field as the above video shows the stands behind still filled with Washington fans.

“I knew if we did rush the field he would be there right next to me the whole time,” the 3-star tight end said.

In the stands all afternoon he could feel the moment building towards an epic finish.

“The stadium was shaking,” he recalled noting that the Earth was probably moving, as well.  “It was nuts.  A packed house and everyone was standing the whole time. You could feel the energy the whole time and the crowd was so loud.”

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This is the first of 20 interviews RealDawg.com has finished with prospects from the weekend.

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And that he was able to take it in with his dad was incredible.

“The environment is as insane–the energy was insane,” he said.  “I’d never seen anything like it.”

For years he and his pops have been at games together, but he’s usually the one who’s strapped into a helmet as his dad roots him on from the stands. It’s rare that they have shared an experience where they were both emotionally invested as observers.

“That was so awesome,” he said.  “One of the best experiences I’ve had.  Family is huge to me.”

Which is a big reason that he chose Washington because they’re an extension of his family.  The word “family” is often thrown around in recruiting, but it was easy to identify a true family connection given the one he shares with his own father.  He has an open line of communication with his future position coach Nick Sheridan  and head coach Kalen DeBoer as they communicate all of the time.

After an overtime loss earlier this season, Sheridan offered him some rather fatherly/coaching advice.

“He said, ‘It’s easy to be a leader when you’re 4-0’,” Decker recalled of the challenge issues by Sheridan.  “‘You have to keep moral up and make sure every one is hungry everyday at practice.'”

As the window closes on his high school and another opens up on his collegiate career, and perhaps beyond that, he likely won’t have this opportunity for a long time.

For now he’s happy with where Washington is headed after the big win.

“If there was any doubt about this Huskies program, this win just eliminated it,” he said.