As always, our postgame tale of the tape ...
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME -- This was a pretty balanced performance for the Huskies, who rushed for 226 yards and gained 255 more through the air. Cyler Miles was the catalyst for that passing attack, completing 18-of-23 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over. Chris Petersen said afterward that he thought he was "dialed in" from the start, and Miles certainly looked as comfortable as he has at any point this season. Jaydon Mickens gets a nod here, too, for his 125 yards of total offense and two touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME -- Travis Feeney probably deserves the honor for his interception alone, but defensive end Andrew Hudson deserves recognition, too, for his two sacks. The last one came on the last defensive snap of his career at Husky Stadium, a bit of poetic justice not lost on the fifth-year senior. He upped his season sack total to 10, giving the Huskies teammates with 10 or more sacks (Hau'oli Kikaha, obviously, is the other) for just the second time in school history (the first was in 1982, when Ray Cattage and Mark Stewart had exactly 10 each). Would anyone have believed one year ago that Hudson would not only return to UW this season, but finish with at least 10 sacks? Not likely.
PLAY OF THE GAME -- I see two candidates here. Feeney's interception and subsequent 59-yard return might have really turned the game at the one time it appeared the Beavers might have been ready to get back into it. OSU had just hit a big pass play to Rahmel Dockery to set up a first down at UW's 23-yard line. But Feeney stepped in front of a Sean Mannion pass on first down, and set up a field goal that gave UW a 20-7 lead. The second candidate is Mickens' 36-yard fly-sweep
STAT OF THE GAME -- The Huskies held Oregon State to just 47 yards rushing on 23 carries, an average of just more than two yards per touch.
QUOTABLE -- "They were jumping around, getting everybody pumped, getting everybody ready hours before the game. Everybody wanted to play behind them and play for them." -- junior receiver Jaydon Mickens on UW's seniors
WHAT IT MEANS -- First and foremost, the Huskies are bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive season, and will finish with a regular-season record above .500 for the fourth consecutive season. After last week's debacle in Tucson, there was some question -- at least to outsiders -- about how the Huskies would be able to regroup for their home finale against an Oregon State team that upset Arizona State seven days ago. Well, those questions were answered on the Huskies' first two offensive possessions, which both resulted in touchdowns, and it was never really all that close from there. The Beavers made it interesting and had a chance to cut the lead even closer before Feeney's interception, but the Huskies were able to effectively close the game out in a way they obviously couldn't last week. This was a game the Huskies were favored to win, and a game they certainly should have won. But considering the struggles they've had starting and finishing games this season, they should be encouraged by how easy they made this one on senior night. Also, Miles might have played the cleanest, most efficient game of his career. That bodes well moving forward.
UP NEXT -- Washington at Washington State, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Martin Stadium in Pullman. FOX Sports 1 will have the TV broadcast.
Christian Caple can be reached at christian.caple@thenewstribune.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple
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