SEATTLE — Under other circumstances, Washington State probably wouldn’t be going with Marshall Lobbestael as its starting quarterback Saturday in the Apple Cup.
However, the Washington Huskies don’t see the promotion of this third-stringer as offering any particular advantage to them.
Lobbestael is a senior who has completed 59.9 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,240 yards and 16 touchdowns in 10 games this season. However, those numbers were produced while filling in for other injured quarterbacks: first Jeff Tuel (broken clavicle) and now Connor Halliday (lacerated liver).
“Arguably the best football they’ve played this year is with Lobbestael at quarterback,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said. “… Fortunately for Washington State, they’ve had three guys that are capable and that have gone in and been able to play for them. Unfortunately, they’ve been faced with the injury bug similar to what we’ve had at the quarterback position that can affect the continuity of the football team. Marshall is extremely capable to come in and do some great things for them here Saturday.”
The Cougars rank sixth in the Pacific-12 Conference in scoring offense and total offense, and UW linebacker Cort Dennison said the WSU attack doesn’t look much different no matter who is at the controls.
“They run a lot of the same things,” Dennison said. “All three of them are good quarterbacks. Lobbestael is obviously starting. He’s a really good player. We just have to be in tune with our keys. That’s where film work comes in; just take advantage of as much film work as possible.”
Dennison, who will be playing in his fourth Apple Cup, was equally skeptical of the significance of several other subplots leading up to this 104th meeting of the intrastate rivals.
Washington already having assured itself of a bowl bid? Washington State eliminated from bowl consideration? The venue shifting to CenturyLink Field?
The senior from Utah downplayed all of it as secondary to the central issue – this is the Apple Cup.
“I think the Apple Cup is a great week, and we’re excited for the game,” he said. “… (Washington State) is a really good football team. It doesn’t matter what your record is, I don’t think, in the Apple Cup. It’s in-state rivals, and I think the best comes out in both of us in this game.”
The only other motivation Dennison would acknowledge was Washington’s desire to start playing better.
The Huskies have lost three straight games and have given up more than 30 points in five straight. Dennison figures this would be a good time for the defense to step up.
“I think there were some missed tackles (in the Huskies’ loss last weekend at Oregon Sate) that can be corrected,” he said. “And then when your number is called you just have to step up and make the play. The coaches can only do so much, and when there’s an opportunity to make a play it’s either you or it’s the other guy. It’s where your competitive juices come out.”
Especially in the Apple Cup.
“It’s obviously a very emotional game,” Dennison said. “It’s a hard-hitting game. There’s a lot of pride in this state with both these schools. It’s obviously a fun game. It’s a game I’m lucky to be a part of and I know the rest of the guys are lucky to be a part of.”
Don Ruiz, 253-597-8808
don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/uwsports
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