The game between Michigan and Washington featured two of the nation’s top young passers in Bryce Young and Demond Williams, Jr.–a flip of the script from the National Championship game just 648 days ago.

Washington’s defense got a 3-and-out and on the ensuing possession the Washington offense appeared to be off to a good start but the drive stalled out after a false start on Gerean Hatchett slowed the drive with a 2nd and 12 at the Michigan 39.

In the end, it was Washington’s defense did enough to win while the Williams, Jr and the Husky offense machine didn’t just sputter, but the wheels fell off entirely with two 3rd quarter interceptions and another pick on UW’s final possession of the game.

As happend the past 2 games, the Husky offense sputtered inside the opposition’s 40 yard line, because of an array of self-inflicted wounds, including 3 false starts.

“It’s been feast or famine for the Husky offense.  Today nobody ate, they all starved,” RealDawg.com’s Trevor Mueller surmised.  “Williams’ third interception wasn’t his fault but demonstrated the general breakdown across the offense.”

The strength of Washington’s offense in the run game is now missing with the injuries to the left side of the offensive line and now starting tight end Quentin Moore.

“Jonah Coleman hasn’t had much room to maneuver,” Mueller said.  “If you can’t run to set up the pass this is the result.”

Washington’s defense was up to the challenge early on but the Williams’ first interception gave the Wolverine offense the ball at the UW 18 yard line.

But the Husky defense was tough early on, holding UM to 7 points before surrendering 17 points in the final 15:06.

In the midst of a lawsuit with against eligibility issues, Husky linebacker Jacob Manu made his presence felt with a perfectly timed hit to break up a pass at the UW 27.  The same thing happed for the Wolverines who drove to the Washington 33 yard line only to turn the ball over on downs after a holding penalty.  On 4th and 1 Semaj Morgan dropped a clear first down pass and the sound of a pin dropping could be heard around the stadium.

A 48-yard leaping catch by Denzel Boston on the first play of Washington’s next drive put the ball on the Michigan 17 yard line but the drive stalled out there and Grady Gross missed a 36-yard field goal wide right with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter.  The Wolverines promptly drove 80 yards in 7 plays.   After throwing for over 400 yards and rushing for over 130 yards, Demond Williams, Jr finished the first quarter 5-8 for 65 yards through the air and 6 yards on the ground.

Rinse, repeat on Washington’s next drive with 2 false starts killing a promising drive that UW had the ball on the Michigan 38 yard line.

On Washington’s Quentin Moore went down with what looked to be a neck injury and was carted off the field.

Williams finished up the half hitting on his final 5 passes for 54 yards, including a 31-yard completion on 2nd and 19 to true freshman Raiden Vines-Bright to put the ball at the UM 11 yard line.

Jonah Coleman added his 13th rushing TD to lead the nation, moving him to a tie with Jake Locker, Hugh McElhenny, and Cam Davis.  He has 14 total touchdowns this season.

The quarterbacks battled to a statistical deadlock in the first half with Williams, Jr going 14-19 for 155 yards while his Michigan counterpart went 15 for 20 for 151 yards and score.

After a short punt the Wolverines drove the ball to the Washington 5 yard line only to turn the ball over on downs on 4th and 2.  Xe’ree Alexander, who had a similar play against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Husky Stadium, stopped Jordan Marshall at the UW 5.

Neither Washington’s offense nor its defense felt like it was able to fully get on track, but the Husky D turned away the Wolverines twice on 4th down.  On 4th and 1 from the UW 6 yard line Xe’ree Alexander, as he did against the Buckeyes a month ago, teamed up with several defenders to stop Jordan Marshall a few inches shy of a first down.  The stop kept the score knotted at 7.

And then the wheels came off.

Before the string of 4 turnovers by Washington’s offense the D had done quite well on 3rd and 4th downs but have gone 4-5 in the 4th quarter.  In the span of 5 pass attempts, Williams, Jr. had 3 balls picked off.  The final nail in the coffin was a drop by Denzel Boston into the waiting arms of Cameron Brandt.

On the back of the 3 interceptions, the Wolverines possessed the ball nearly 15 minutes more than UW in the second half.

Washington plays Illinois next week in Seattle with a game time yet to be determined.