The Washington Huskies moved to 10-0, notching their 17th consecutive win in a 35-28 victory over the Utah Utes. The conditions were miserable, mainly in terms of wind and cold, mixing in a bit of rain to start the 3rd quarter. Michael Penix accounted for 3 touchdowns, scoring one on the ground and hitting Rome Odunze for two TDs.
The Husky defense rallied in the second half after giving up 28 first half points as Utah scored touchdowns on 4 consecutive possessions on an array of miscues. However, Husky Stadium made its presence felt helping the defense force three 3 and outs, two interceptions and a safety.
Here’s a chronological sequence of the big plays from the game.
Kickoff
It was a slow start on the lake. The Husky crowd brought their A-game, and that was about it. The defense forced a 3 and out to open the game, but the Huskies offense followed suit. Things looked good until a Mishael Powell PI gave Utah a spark. Bralen Trice and Ulumoo Ale would come up big as they held the Utes to zero yards on three straight rush attempts.
The Huskies switched up momentum when they got the ball back as Penix found Bernard for 18 and then Tybo Rogers ripped off a run of 22 yards. Dillon Johnson caught a pass and proceeded to break 3 tackles to get a first down. Westover was open in the end zone so Utah took the PI to make it first and goal. Michael Penix got his number called on a QB keeper and the Huskies got out in front 7-0.
Utah finally got the offense running as Bryson Barnes found Devaughn Vele for 42 yards. Jabbar Muhammad would make a big tackle to save the touchdown, but he Utes still got a first down. Utah would punch it in as Ja’Quinden Jackson broke it in from two yards to tie the ball game at 7.
There’s a reason Ja’Lynn Polk is going to the NFL. Rising up above a Utah defender Polk made a beautiful catch for a gain of 30 yards. Dillon Johnson is looking like he did last weekend. Dropping a Utah defender in the backfield and escaping for a first down. The pocket has been far from clean today and Penix is pressured into an incompletion as the Huskies are forced to kick a field goal. The ever reliable Gross is good from 41 to put the Huskies up 10-7
First Quarter: 10-7 Washington
The Huskies did their best to stop the run, but Utah was gaining just enough each carry. They finally got their big play on an end around to Money Parks for 15. Bryson Barnes launched one into double coverage and it was a bad throw. Vincent Nunley almost got the int but the pass break up forced a third down. The defense knocked the ball out of Vaki Sione hands, but he jumped right back on it. A facemask penalty would set Utah inside the 10. And Barnes would find a six yard completion to go up 14-10.
It was two explosive possesions that would follow as Penix found Dillon Johnson for a first down then Jack Westover in a seam for a big 28 yard gain. After missing him on the first try Penix went to Rome Odunze again, fitting the ball in just perfectly to the back pylon to finish off the big drive. Gross hit the pat and maked it 17-14.
Ja’Quinden Jackson got a nice return out to the 35 to start Utah’s possession. A quick screen, followed by multiple missed tackling opportunities by the Huskies allowed Sione Vaki free for 53 yards to put Utah back up by a score of 21-17.
Daniyel Ngata responded with a kick return of his own. Taking it 40 yards from his own 3 to set the Huskies up with great field position. Germie Bernard is reminding us just how much we missed him as he broke through tackles for a big 28 yard gain. With pressure coming Penix looked for Odunze and got a PI penalty (for good reason) and a first down. Dillon Johnson battled for 11 yards on second down, but having gone backwards the play before it wasn’t enough. On third and two they lined Johnson up as the quarterback with Germie Bernard to his left. Bernard and the O-line got push and made it 24-21 as Johnson got in.
Elijah Jackson layed out the return man on the kick-off, pair that with a block in the back and Utah was pinned deep. There was not a bit of pressure as Barnes stood in and delivered a 68 yard completion to Devaughn Vele. The Huskies got lucky as Dominique Hampton forced him out of bounds. But Jackson would get the carry and extend the football into the end zone to go up 28-24.
Daniyel Ngata made another big return taking it 31 yards from his own 5. The Huskies took what Utah gave them and but where eventually forced to look for more and a string of in-completions would end the half.
Half-Time: 28-24 Utah
Seattle’s signature weather welcomed both teams back on the field as the rain was falling down. Dillon Johnson took his first carry for a big 28 yard gain to give immediate life to the Huskies. But the Huskies shot themselves in the foot with two runs going for 1 yard and a missed snap getting Penix sacked. The rainy turf came up with some big defensive plays for the Huskies as Utah was slipping on first and second down. Needing a big stop the pass rush got a huge pressure as Barnes was forced to through it out of a sack, and going off Ralen Goforth’s hands.
After looking stuck on two plays Penix found Rome Odunze down the field for a 43 yard bomb over the middle. Odunz’e catch set the Huskies up well, but three plays only picked up 5 yards and a delay of game brought out Grady Gross to cut the lead to a point at 28-27. The Huskies made a big play on the kickoff with Carson Bruener leading the way holding Utah to their own 20. The Huskies came up with a big play as Mishael Powell forced Utah backwards four yards setting up third and 14. Dominique Hampton knocked the pass down and the Huskies got the ball right back.
A targeting penalty would be called on Sione Fotu Utah giving the Huskies the ball near the 50 yard line. The wet turf went in Utah’s favor as Dillon Johnson slipped two yards short of the first down but Westover got open for 10 yards on fourth and two. Penix got time in the pocket and fired a lazer into Rome Odunze’s waiting arms in the endzone. Odunze’s catch put a new energy in the building. A two-point attempt saw Odunze rolling right and throwing to Culp who slipped on the turf and dropped the pass keeping the score 33-28.
Carson Bruener made another big play stopping the Utah return at the 20 yard line. Jaylon Glover carried it through a gap for 14 yards and a first down. Trice and Goforth got pressure despite a hold and Utah was back where they started. Barnes scrambled all over the place for 10 yards to make it second and 10. Glover got 11 this time and it was again first down. On third down Barnes stood in and completed a big pass to #12 for a first down plus a roughing the passer penalty combo putting the Ute’s in the red zone. Tunuufi shook up Barnes on the hit meaning Nate Johnson came in for the Utes. Johnson missed a throw and it was tipped into the hands of Alphonso Tuputala who returned the ball into the end zone.
Except Tuputala let the ball go on the one yard line and not in the end zone. Utah jumped on it and had the ball back. Tuputala can write a thank you letter to Tuli Letuligasenoa and Carson Bruener who made a huge stop in the backfield for a safety to go up 35-28. Husky Stadium is loving that as emotions are swinging back and forth with every play. With the crowd fully at their backs the Huskies have a touchdown lead.
The refs are having fun letting Utah’s defensive backs man handle the Husky receivers. It’s nearing 100 lost yards on not called PI alone.
3rd Quarter: 35-28 Washington
Westover made the catch on third down to move the chains and Germie Bernard got good blocks on a screen for 10 yards. Johnson goes backwards after a false start to make it 2nd and 19. The Huskies battled to 4th and 5 and brought the offense on at the 35. The Huskies complete the pass but holding brings out Jack McCallister. The punt skips past Husky coverage for a touch back.
Utah got the ball back but an offensive PI on what would have moved te chains forced 3rd down. Voi Tunuufi took advantage of the situation creating a huge amount pressure that forced Barnes to toss the ball into the Utah sideline. Tunuufi has been in his head all second half.
A Husky hold and Utah PI cancel each other out. The Huskies are using Dillon Johnson to impose their will on Utah and it’s working.
Utah finally held the Huskies to 4th and 1 and they dialed up another run to Johnson for a first down. Polk and Will Nixon would both get an opportunity to make a difference and get first downs to get they Huskies to the red zone. The Utes got their stop and forced a field goal. Gross’s kick would be blocked and just like that Utah had life.
With the ball back in their hands Utah needed to move quickly. Incompletion after incompletion and a gain of zero got to fourth down. A rolling Husky crowd and pressure into the face of Barnes forced a rushed throw into the middle of the field and to the hands of Dominique Hampton. Hampton’s interception capped off an impressive 2nd half from the Huskies defense. Two turnovers plus 57 total yards of offense had Utah shutout in the second half.
After Hampton’s interception that was the game. The Huskies kneeled the game out and secured their win over the defending Pac-12 champions.
4th Quarter: 35-28
Utah possessed the ball just for 2:38 in the second half. The big play was Washington safety Dom Hampton’s game sealing interception. In all, the Washington defense held the Utes to 16 yards and zero points. The Huskies didn’t score either, but they scored, choosing to sit on the ball to kill the clock.
