Practice hard, play well, earn time.

It’s the worst-kept secret around the University of Washington’s preseason football camp these days. It’s the rule that rookies, veterans and the team’s key playmakers are finding out to be unbending.

You’d hardly expect a Steve Sarkisian-coached passing offense to be flat for an extended period of time, but it had been out of sorts the past few days at practice, with receivers dropping balls put right in their hands.

The two players who had the fewest of those issues were – surprise or not – in the starting lineup Saturday for the UW’s final scrimmage in front of 2,000 eager spectators at Husky Stadium: Sophomore Jordan Polk and true freshman James Johnson.

That’s not to say the projected starting trio of Devin Aguilar, D’Andre Goodwin and Jermaine Kearse are in Sarkisian’s doghouse. And it certainly doesn’t mean that by next week the team’s leading receivers from last season won’t be back taking most of the snaps.

But the new lineup surely got people’s attention, including the guys trying to slow them down Saturday – the UW defense.

“Definitely with Jordan, he is one of the fastest guys I’ve ever played against, or seen play. Once he gets going, it’s hard to stop. He’s real quick in and out” of routes, linebacker Mason Foster said. “J.J. is just a great athlete, and can jump and run and runs precise routes. It’s a big challenge … they definitely have more” big-play potential.

In Goodwin’s defense, he was the other starter when the UW was in three-receiver sets with starting quarterback Jake Locker. But when Sarkisian played tight ends Kavario Middleton and Chris Izbicki together, the two youngsters occupied the outside.

And Johnson caught a 29-yard pass on the first series, cutting, then blazing by safety Greg Walker down the sideline.

“They got a lot of snaps today. I think that they did some good things for us and made some plays,” Locker said. “Coach (Sarkisian) is giving them the opportunity.”

Yet it took a half for the offense to get rolling – something that did not set well with Sarkisian.

“In general, it took our guys, as a group, as a team, a while to get adjusted to the fact they were out on the field on their own, and not out there with the coaches yelling and screaming and having everyone around,” Sarkisian said. “Fortunately for us, we’ve got two weeks to get accustomed to that type of style, that type of environment where they have to be on their own, communicate with one another, get used to one another.”

In a flash, Locker produced right after halftime on what might have been his best moments of the preseason, directing a 10-play, 80-yard drive for a touchdown.

Polk helped then, too. On an end-around, the speedster cut up the left sideline and was barely touched on a 25-yard run to get to the opposing 43.

And for a second time on the drive, Locker converted a third down – this time on third-and-14 when he delivered a pass in Polk’s chest on a crossing pattern down to the 12. Running back Johri Fogerson scored two plays later on a 1-yard plunge.

“I’ve been practicing with (the No. 1 offense) mostly the whole week and just been making plays,” Polk said. “Jake throws me the ball at the right time, and Ronnie (Fouch) at the right time, and I’m doing everything right. That’s what got me on the field.”

Extra points

Locker, who played six series, finished 12-of-19 for 181 yards and a score. Backups Ronnie Fouch (7-of-13, 108 yards) and Keith Price (0-of-4) led the No. 2 offense to touchdowns as well. … There were nine plays of 20 or more yards, with reserve running back Curtis Shaw accounting for three of them (29- and 49-yard runs, 45-yard reception). … Quinton Richardson began the second half with a 98-yard kickoff return for a score. … Nonparticipants included linebacker Matt Houston (arm); safeties Will Shamburger (knee), Jason Wells (Achilles’ tendon) and Victor Aiyewa (head); cornerback Matt Mosley (knee); offensive linemen Ryan Tolar (toe), Skyler Fancher (ankle), Morgan Rosborough (shoulder) and Terence Thomas (foot); and fullback Paul Homer (hamstring). … Sarkisian had a surprise treat for his players later Saturday night – a trip to the movie theater to watch “District 9.”

todd.milles@thenewstribune.com