Season of gloom marches on for Huskies
Washington lost to Oregon State, 34-13, Saturday night, and coach Tyrone Willingham’s summation seemed as good as any for this specific game and also for the Huskies’ season, which now stands 0-6 at its midpoint.
“(It) was a game in which we didn’t make enough plays, gave up too many big plays, didn’t create any turnovers and gave turnovers. If those things could have been avoided …” he said before letting the thought drift away.
The sentence didn’t need to be completed because it has been said enough through UW’s eight consecutive losses dating back to last season, which matches North Texas for the longest losing streak in the NCAA Bowl Subdivision.
The latest loss played out before a homecoming crowd of 63,996. The Huskies inched ahead only once, 3-0, on a 45-yard field goal by Jared Ballman about 10 minutes in. But Oregon State answered with 17 straight points.
And when UW managed another field goal just before halftime, the Beavers answered with the next 14 points, setting up a suspense-free final quarter that played out as a constant flow of fans quietly headed out of Husky Stadium.
“We always love having our fans there,” junior defensive end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim said. “But honestly, when the play starts it’s 11-on-11. When I was a freshman I used to think (crowd noise) was a big deal, but I learned it is about us and what we do on the field.”
Once again, the Huskies (0-4 Pacific-10 Conference) didn’t do enough, though there were some highlights.
In his first college start, true freshman Terrance Dailey rushed for 102 yards, including a 59-yard burst early in the fourth quarter for UW’s only touchdown.
Sophomore receiver D’Andre Goodwin regularly got behind the OSU secondary and snagged five catches for 136 yards – UW’s first 100-yard receiver performance of the season.
In his second start, quarterback Ronnie Fouch passed for a career-high 276 yards. But three interceptions and one lost fumble took a lot of the shine off of that.
“I thought he made some good throws and receivers made some nice catches for him,” offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said. “But we’ve got to calm him down back there a little bit. I know it’s easy for us to sit here and say, but we’ve got to calm him down back there and make him stay back there a little bit longer.”
Meanwhile, the Beavers (4-3, 3-1) also had their share of standout performances, but they didn’t undercut them with nearly as many errors.
Freshman tailback Jacquizz Rodgers, who came into the game as the leading rusher in the Pacific-10 Conference, managed 94 rushing yards. However, the Huskies were less able to contain his brother, James, who ran for 110 yards on three carries and caught three passes for 53 yards more.
And OSU quarterback Lyle Moevao completed 18 of 22 passes for 191 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Three of the Beavers’ four touchdowns came from 33, 52 and 55 yards out.
“You’ve got to put the complete game together,” UW defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said. “You can see people over the course of the year have had a hard time (stopping OSU) – even the best teams. It’s really the big plays.”
Fading hopes of the Huskies getting back in the game – or even salvaging something positive to take into next week – were snuffed in the final minutes when the Beavers kept them out of end zone on four plays from the 1-yard line.
“I thought it was just a lot of pride right there,” OSU coach Mike Riley said. “We could have probably thought that the game was in hand and not done it, but the guys wanted to. I think the guys were disappointed they let Washington down there, and they took every shot at them and did a nice job.”
As for the Huskies’ pride, they promised once again to continue trying to turn things around as the season moves into its second half next week against Notre Dame.
“We’ve got to keep this thing glued together, and it’s not easy,” Lappano said. “It’s not easy right now. It’s hard. We need every leader that we have to try to hold this thing together. And it’s going to get harder every week.”
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808
blogs.thenewstribune.com/uwsports
Huskies game in review
Player of the game
Oregon State flanker James Rodgers gained a game-high 110 yards on three carries – a 36.7-yard average. He also caught three passes for 53 yards. He accounted for three touchdowns: on runs of 52 and 55 yards and a 33-yard reception. His brother, Jacquizz, accounted for OSU’s other touchdown.
Husky of the game
Receiver D’Andre Goodwin regularly got behind the Oregon State secondary. He ended up with five catches for 136 yards. He became the first UW receiver to top 100 receiving yards this season, and he moved past that milestone in the first half.
Turning point
Washington jumped ahead 3-0. On the Beavers’ next possession late in the first quarter, they faced a fourth and 1 at their own 43. Coach Mike Riley decided to go for it. OSU converted and continued on for a touchdown that started a 17-0 run that UW couldn’t overcome.
Injury report
UW coach Tyrone Willingham reported no new injuries that are expected to keep anyone out next week. Goodwin and tailback Terrance Dailey each went out for a while, but both returned to action.
Extra points
Dailey became the fourth player to start at tailback for UW in the first six games, joining Chris Polk, David Freeman and Willie Griffin. … Tackle Johnie Kirton started for the first time as a defensive player. He had started previously as a tight end. … Jared Ballman’s 45-yard field goal in the first quarter was the first made by a Huskies kicker since the season opener at Oregon. It also was UW’s longest since Ryan Perkins hit from the same distance last season against California. … This was OSU’s first road victory of the season after three losses. … Washington remains paired with North Texas as the only winless teams in the NCAA Bowl Subdivision as the not-so-Mean Green also lost, 35-23, to Louisiana-Monroe. The teams also share eight-game losing streaks, longest in the nation. … UW game captains were Paul Homer, Kirton, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and Michael Gottlieb.
Next
Notre Dame at 5 p.m. Saturday, Husky Stadium, ESPN2. The Irish are 4-2 and will be coming off a bye week.
Don Ruiz, The News Tribune
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