Once again taking a full 15 minutes of game time to warm up and now averaging zip in the first quarters of their first two games of the new season, the Huskies still had no problem dispensing of Eastern Michigan in an easy 30-9 win at home in Alaska Airlines Husky Stadium. I think head coach Jedd Fisch must have QB Will Rogers on a pitch count as he threw exactly 26 times in both games completing 20 in their win over Weber State and 21 in Saturday’s win over the Eagles—although he was much more productive on the score board connecting for 261 yards of Washington’s 316 total in the air and 4 TD’s without a pick with Senior Wide Receiver Jeremiah Hunter and Freshman TE Decker DeGraff the recipient of a TD each with Sophomore Wide Receiver Denzel Boston picking up two. Junior RB Jonah Coleman led the way on the ground with 104 yards on 11 carries of the 27 rushing attempts for 201 yard total.
Eastern Michigan took the early lead with a huge 57 yard field goal by Senior Place Kicker Jesus Gomez on their second possession of the game. After three punts, including two three-and-outs, the Huskies finally got on the board with some help from the Eagles in the form of a fumble then taking the ball 82 yards in 6 plays on one Jonah Coleman run and five Will Rogers’ passes, including one to Freshman TE Decker DeGraaf for 41 yards and a TD to go up 7-3. Eastern Michigan would close to within one on their next possession ending in another Jesus Gomez field goal, this one from just 29 yards out. The Huskies would finish out the half with back-to-back TD’s—the first covering 80 yards in just three plays thanks to a Coleman 64 yard run—while holding the Eagles to a three-and-out to go up 21-6 at the break. Washington shut Eastern Michigan out in the third while picking up a TD after holding the Eagles to a three-and-out to go up 27-6 after a blocked PAT and then 30-6 on a 28 yard Grady Gross field goal. Rogers came out in the 4th, replaced by Demond Williams Jr. who connected on 3-of-3 for 55 yards on the day as well as rushed twice for 30 more. The Eagles would score once more on another lengthy field goal of 50 yards by Gomez who was responsible for all the Eastern Michigan points in the 30-9 loss.
The Husky defense created a lot of problems for Eastern Michigan, recording 7 sacks and 9 tackles for loss while holding them to just 75 yards on the ground and have yet to yield a TD in 2024—a stat that they won’t be able to enjoy after next week when they meet the Washington State Cougars in the Seattle Seahawks’ Lumen Field for a very early Apple Cup. The Cougars are rolling, have a chip on their shoulder, and on a mission. I just don’t see them losing that game.