UW’s first seven games this fall followed a familiar script.
They started, predictably, with a Washington touchdown on its opening drive. They highlighted the strong left arm of Michael Penix Jr., who distributed the ball with the frequency of a paper boy on his morning route. They featured an array of eligible wide receivers and a smorgasbord of explosive plays. They were touchdown-heavy and defense-light. They were fond of fourth-down gambles. They were peppered with porous pass defense — missed tackles and broken coverages and non-competitive cornerbacks. They were fun and frustrating and undeniably entertaining.
For seven Saturdays, there were points.
In UW’s 28-21 win over Cal, there were field goals and penalties.
At least, at first.
There were also drops and defensive stops, relative rarities for Kalen DeBoer’s 2022 Huskies. Together, they explain why Washington outgained Cal 245 to 83 in the first half … but led just 6-0.
UW ran 24 combined plays in its first two offensive drives, but came away only with a pair of Peyton Henry field goals. Its opening salvo ended when a Penix designed run on third-and-6 was stuffed for a 2-yard loss at the Bears’ 23-yard line. It was the first time in eight games this season that UW’s opening drive didn’t end with an extra point.
After quickly forcing a Cal punt, UW’s second drive yielded similar frustration — as a 14-play, 62-yard march fizzled when it mattered most. On third-and-5 from the Cal 20-yard line, tight end Jack Westover was penalized for a false start — holding his hands on his chrome gold helmet after acknowledging his error. After Penix hit running back Wayne Taulapapa for a 7-yard gain, UW — which went for it on fourth down 19 times in its first seven games, 11th-most in the nation — opted for a 35-yard Henry field goal instead.
By now, perhaps, you’re privy to the theme. An encouraging UW defense forced yet another Cal punt, and Penix and Co. again methodically moved the chains — then stalled outside of the end zone. On second-and-goal from the 8-yard line, Penix found McMillan for a diving touchdown … which was negated by a pass interference penalty on wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. Henry pushed a 34-yard field goal attempt wide two plays later.
UW’s defense forced four consecutive punts in the first half, while its offense succumbed to a flurry of self-inflicted wounds. For two quarters, the script was effectively flipped.
For better or worse, the second half felt more familiar.
Cal quarterback Jack Plummer found wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant for a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter — an 8-yard strike across his body while eluding the pass rush, and a 48-yard flair where Sturdivant burned Husky corner Jordan Perryman on third-and-7.
UW also (finally) found the end zone, as running back Cameron Davis busted up the gut for a 6-yard score — his conference-leading 10th of the season. And after Sturdivant’s sprint tied the game at 14-14, the Huskies immediately answered — ripping off a 10-play, 75-yard drive, culminating with a back-shoulder 13-yard touchdown to McMillan on third-and-10.
A week after breaking UW’s single-game passing record with 516 yards in a win over Arizona, Penix was again precise — completing 36 of 51 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns. McMillan led the Huskies with eight catches for 81 yards and the aforementioned score.
But an offense alone is insufficient. After McMillan’s touchdown gave the Huskies a precarious 21-14 lead, UW’s pass rush did its part — as Voi Tunuufi sacked Plummer (with help from Zion Tupuola-Fetui) to force a three-and-out.
At which point, Penix provided.
On third-and-2 from the Cal 36-yard line, the redshirt junior took a snap, bought time and found running back Richard Newton — who stepped through a tackle attempt, viciously stiff-armed nickelback Collin Gamble and high-stepped into the end zone.
The 6-foot, 212-pound Newton — who missed the Arizona game with an injury — provided valuable insurance for a rapidly disintegrating UW pass defense. Because, trailing 28-14, Cal unsurprisingly, inevitably answered — capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive with an 8-yard tight-window Plummer touchdown pass to wide receiver Mavin Anderson on fourth-and-7.
But after UW was forced to punt, the pass rush again emerged — as Tupuola-Fetui sacked Plummer for a 10-yard loss on third down and shushed an already silent California Memorial Stadium. The Huskies forced a fourth-down incompletion on Cal’s following desperation drive as well.
UW finished with five sacks in the win — two by sophomore edge Bralen Trice, and one apiece by Tupuola-Fetui, Tunuufi and Jeremiah Martin. Plummer completed 21 of 33 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns.
For 30 minutes, the Huskies followed an unfamilar script. And in the end, they did something else they hadn’t done all season.
After failed tries against UCLA and Arizona State, they finally earned their first road win.