Huskies can’t overcome offensive miscues, drop 20-17 loss to Colorado
The first snap that bounced into the backfield Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field resulted in an 88-yard scoop and score for Colorado that led to an early two-possession lead.
The second snap that bounced into the backfield gave the Buffaloes a quick first-and-goal, and the field goal that followed gave them a lead they never lost.
The two second half interceptions stymied what were once promising Washington drives, and the second led to the touchdown that gave Colorado the needed points to hold off the Huskies here late, and send them home with a third consecutive loss.
This loss in particular ensured UW’s season will end next weekend, when a bowl-eligible Washington State team visits for the Apple Cup.
UW (4-7) now can’t finish with more than five wins, and will miss out on bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2009 season, regardless of what happens in the rivalry game.
“It’s disappointing, because I know everyone wants to go out and do that, play that extra game and play the game they love,” Huskies cornerback Kyler Gordon said.
What turned out to be the deciding game in UW’s season ended with a 20-17 loss on this chilly afternoon, and Colorado celebrating as the final seconds ticked away.
“We’ve got to score some points and can’t turn the ball over,” UW interim head coach Bob Gregory said. “It’s pretty simple. That was really the tale of the game right there. I thought we played good enough on defense. It would have been nice to get a turnover on defense, but when there’s four turnovers (on offense), especially in critical situations in the red zone, that’s tough.”
It seemed for everything that went right for the Huskies — and a lot did at certain points — even more went wrong.
The Huskies outgained Colorado, 426-186 — and 90 of those yards for the Buffaloes were on their final touchdown drive. They picked up 22 first downs to Colorado’s nine. On third down or later, the Huskies were 15-for-23, while Colorado converted in those situations only three times. UW’s defense forced seven punts, and on eight drives held the Buffaloes to four plays or fewer.
It wasn’t enough.
Here’s how the rest unfolded:
The Buffaloes sustained two drives of more than four plays — their first scoring drive, and their last.
UW’s defense didn’t give up much more, holding Brenden Lewis to 14-of-25 passing for 112 yards. The Huskies tallied six quarterback hits — while Jeremiah Martin added his first career sack — and four pass break-ups. They also held Colorado’s collective rushing offense to 71 yards — the third time this season they’ve held an opponent to less than 100 on the ground.
Still, it wasn’t enough to undo the offensive miscues.
Colorado took the game’s first lead on the first of Cole Becker’s two field goals — a 35-yarder to cap the game’s opening drive.
UW’s offense, in its second game with interim offensive coordinator Junior Adams calling plays, efficiently moved down the field on the ensuing drive, converted three third downs on completions from Dylan Morris to Cameron Davis, Taj Davis and Kamari Pleasant that all went for 10-plus yards. Another long completion to Cameron Davis quickly moved the Huskies into the red zone. They eventually drove to the 3 on a Jay’Veon Sunday carry, but then the first offensive snafu happened.
On first-and-goal, a bobbled snap bounced several yards into the backfield. Colorado linebacker Jack Lamb scooped it up and sprinted 88 yards to give the Buffaloes a 10-0 lead with 2:37 left in the first quarter.
It was the first time this season the Huskies — who had converted 31-of-31 chances in the red zone entering the day — failed to put up points from inside the 20.
The next drive seemed promising too, but after driving as far as Colorado’s 12, the Huskies were forced to settle for Peyton Henry’s 30-yard field goal.
The two teams combined for five consecutive three-and-outs in the second quarter before the Huskies evened the score.
Patrick O’Brien, making his second appearance of the season at quarterback, played back-to-back series for the Huskies in the second quarter, and completed his first passing attempt of the season to Taj Davis, but neither drive picked up a first down.
O’Brien finished 1-of-3 for 1 yard on his six offensive snaps and was sacked once on a scramble to end the first of the Huskies’ two three-and-outs in the quarter.
“That was the plan all week was to get a different quarterback in the game, and give us a little spark,” Gregory said. “That was our plan last week with Sam (Huard). So, we stuck with the plan.”
Colorado went three-and-out on three consecutive drives in the quarter after taking its early 10-0 lead, and punted on its final four drives of the half, but it wasn’t until 2:11 remained in the second quarter the Huskies finally evened it up.
Rome Odunze caught four passes on the drive, converted a pair of third downs, then caught a short pass from Morris and dodged two defenders on his way to an 8-yard touchdown to make it 10-10 at the break.
The Huskies didn’t score again until 2:30 remained in the game, the second half providing more offensive troubles.
Their first drive ended with a Buffaloes interception, when a pass from Morris bounced off the hand of Taj Davis on a broken play and landed in the arms of Robert Barnes.
The second ended with a missed field goal attempt from 49 yards out after a sack on third down backed them up.
The third ended when a bad snap was covered up by Barnes inside the UW 10. That led to the eventual game-winning 22-yard field goal by Becker.
Another interception on their fourth drive was secured by Nikko Reed in the end zone, and the Buffaloes drove down the field on the ensuing drive, with Lewis eventually diving for the pylon for a 2-yard score with 4:05 remaining.
It turned out that was needed.
The Huskies did score on their fifth drive of the half, when Morris found Ja’Lynn Polk — playing for the first time since he was injured in the season-opener against Montana — for a 55-yard score that cut the lead to 20-17.
UW’s defense then forced a punt, giving the Huskies the ball back with two minutes left, but they turned it over on downs and Colorado ran out the clock.
“It was very tough,” Gordon said. “Obviously you want to come out with the win and finish the game off strong, and it just didn’t happen today.”
Morris finished with single-game career highs in completions (33), attempts (52) and yards (387), the two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Cameron Davis led the Huskies rushing attack — which managed 38 yards — with 29 yards on 12 carries, and added six catches for 58.
All eight of the players who caught passes finished with multiple receptions, led by tight end Devin Culp (six catches, 83 yards), Odunze (nine catches, 68 yards) and Polk (two catches, 60 yards).
This story was originally published November 20, 2021 at 3:14 PM.
