This game wasn’t quite as close as the 31-24 score makes it look but if you want to equate TD passes to home runs then Mike Vogel’s headline in the sport’s section for the Seattle Times makes a lot of sense when he wrote; “Unbeaten UW Huskies utilize small ball to hold off Arizona.” Going into the game Washington QB Michael Penix-Jr led the nation in passing yards and TD’s thrown, averaging just over 400 yards and exactly four TD’s per game. In this one he was 45+ yards short of his average while connecting on 75% of his throws—none for touchdowns. He certainly helped move the chains but to get into the end zone the Huskies had to rely on their running game this week in which they rushed 26 times for 111 yards and more importantly 4 TD’s which, with four extra points and a field goal, was all they needed to win this one. Junior RB Dillon Johnson led the way on the ground rushing 16 times for 91 of those yards and two of the scores with the other two coming via Sophomores Will Nixon and Germie Bernard.
Washington took the early lead with two 1st Qtr TD’s after forcing the Wildcats into punting after their first possession ended in a three-and-out and the second after four plays that went no where. Playing with their backup QB Noah Fifita, due to an injury to their starter Jayden de Laura, the Wildcats finally got on the scoreboard in the top half of the 2nd Qtr on an 8 yard TD pass to Jacob Cowing to close within a TD. But the Huskies stretched it right back out to 21-7 on a 12 play 73 yard drive and Will Nixon 5 yard TD run. Arizona made it all the way back down the field on their next drive but got stalled in the red zone and had to settle for a Tyler Loop 30 yard field goal to make it 21-10 going into the break.
After holding the Huskies to a three-and-out to start the 3rd Qtr, Arizona had a chance to close that gap but between an illegal substitution penalty and a Washington sack had to punt the ball back after just four plays. Seven plays later, including a 57 yard pass to Sophomore TE Josh Cuevas, Washington increased their lead to 28-10 on a 4 yard TD run by Dillon Johnson. The Wildcats would finally put more points on the scoreboard on their next drive as Fifita connected with Sophomore WR Tetairoa McMillan to make it 28-17. Aided by an Arizona sack and a Washington holding penalty the Huskies drive stalled resulting in a 37 yard Grady Gross field goal to go up 31-17 with most of the 4th Qtr remaining. Over the next four possessions both sides had opportunities to either increase the difference or close the gap but between an interception, a fumble and a three-and-out the score stayed the same until just under four minutes remained in the game when the Wildcats went on an 11 play, 90 yard drive ending in another Fafita TD pass to McMillan to get Arizona to within a TD at 31-24. But with just a minute left to play that’s where it would stay.
The Huskies got it done but as the AP pointed out in their recap for ESPN; “One issue that helped slow Washington down and give Arizona opportunities was penalties. The Huskies had several key penalties that put the offense in a hole or gave the Wildcats extra yards—[finishing] with 12 penalties for 125 yards.” Fortunately they’ve got a week off to look at the tape and figure things out before they play host to Oregon and Bo Nix in what should be quite a show. Arizona hits the road to So Cal where they’ll take on the Trojans this next Saturday.