What we learned from the UW Huskies’ 42-23 victory over Oregon State

By Adam Jude The Seattle Times • November 19, 2018 7:00 pm
Oregon State safety Jalen Moore is the only man who can keep Washington’s Myles Gaskin (9) out of the end zone as Gaskin rushes for 54 yards, setting up the Huskies’ first score of the game on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at Husky Stadium in Seattle. Washington won, 42-23. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/TNS)
Oregon State safety Jalen Moore is the only man who can keep Washington’s Myles Gaskin (9) out of the end zone as Gaskin rushes for 54 yards, setting up the Huskies’ first score of the game on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at Husky Stadium in Seattle. Washington won, 42-23. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/TNS)

Adam Jude

The Seattle Times

The good, the bad and the lingering questions from Washington’s 42-23 victory over Oregon State on Saturday at Husky Stadium:

THE GOOD

The win

Well, duh. Any and every win is a good win, right? For the Huskies, Saturday’s home finale was merely an appetizer for the Apple Cup. They did what they had to do against Oregon State. No, it wasn’t a perfect game, but they did build a little more momentum on offense and they came away with no injury concerns (Jake Browning said he was “fine” after taking a hit on his last pass attempt in the fourth quarter). The Huskies have won 14 in a row at Husky Stadium, and they sent off one of the most successful senior classes in school history with another win. From Jake Browning to Myles Gaskin … from Kaleb McGary to Drew Sample … Greg Gaines to Shane Bowman and Jaylen Johnson … Ben Burr-Kirven to Tevis Bartlett … JoJo McIntosh to Jordan Miller … this class has earned a place in Husky lore.

The offense

Here were the Huskies’ first four offensive possessions:

— Four plays, 79 yards, 2:06, touchdown (Salvon Ahmed 4-yard run)

— Eight plays, 75 yards, 3:37, touchdown (Ahmed 4-yard run)

— Three plays, 20 yards, 59 seconds, touchdown (Aaron Fuller 17 yards from Browning)

— Seven plays, 88 yards, 2:52, touchdown (Cade Otton 21 yards from Browning)

The game was all but over by the end of the first quarter. The Huskies led 28-3 and had piled up 252 yards on 22 plays (11.5 yards per play). It’s true that Oregon State’s defense has been one of the worst the Pac-12 has seen in recent memory. That’s a factor. But for a UW offense that has been parts sporadic and disjointed and disappointing this season, that fast start adds more confidence after the strong start against Stanford two weeks earlier. The Huskies’ 42 points, 503 yards of total offense and 275 yards on the ground were all season highs against an FBS opponent. Gaskin (135 yards, one TD) continues to look good in his second game back from the shoulder injury; Browning was his typically efficient self (17 for 23 for 242 yards, 3 TDs and no turnovers); and Ahmed finished with 76 yards on nine carries. All positives.

THE BAD

The second half

Sure, Chris Petersen stepped off the gas after building a 42-16 lead in the third quarter. He’s not one to run up the score anyway, and he certainly wouldn’t want to do it against an old friend in Jonathan Smith. That said, things got sloppy in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, and the Huskies know they’ll need to be sharp in the fourth quarter Friday in Pullman. “I’d like to start like that every week, every first quarter,” Petersen said. “They were clicking and set the tone for the game. You knew Oregon State was going to keep battling. They’ve done that against every team they’ve played. They did a nice job on offense moving the ball. I thought it was pretty good football for three quarters and it’d be nice to score another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but that’s how it goes.”

The special teams

It was a mixed bag on special teams. How about Edefuan Ulofoshio? A true freshman walk-on LB from Alaska, Ulofoshio forced a fumble on kickoff coverage on the first play of his UW career. He forced another fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half. But Oregon State successfully recovered an onside kick and took advantage of a botched UW punt in the fourth quarter — leading to 10 of Oregon State’s 23 points.

THE QUESTIONS

Can Trey Adams be a factor?

Some of the best news for the Huskies on Saturday was the return of several key players. Notably, All-American left tackle Trey Adams took his first snaps of 2018. Adams hadn’t played any real football in 13 months while coming back from two significant surgeries. So he was what you would expect from something in that situation: rusty. He did have one holding penalty called against him, but seeing No. 72 back out there was surely a welcome sight for Browning. Also back: junior linebacker DJ Beavers, a starter in the season opener who hadn’t played since because of an undisclosed injury. Myles Bryant and Jordan Mille also returned from more minor injuries.

Who’s ready for the Apple Cup?

The anticipation has been building over the past month, and Apple Cup week is finally here. “All these games are so important to us,” Petersen said. “We know what we are playing for, but the players and coaches put their heart and soul into every game, so we will prepare as we always have and we have to play as well as we’ve played all year.”