10 more notes from the Huskies’ 20-17 loss to Colorado
The Washington Huskies (4-7) dropped a 20-17 loss to Colorado (4-7) on their final road trip of the season Saturday afternoon in Boulder.
Here are 10 more notes from the loss:
▪ This loss officially decided the outcome of this season — the Huskies will wrap up their schedule with the Apple Cup this week, and finish short of bowl eligibility for the first time since 2009.
“It’s disappointing, because I know everyone wants to go out and do that, play that extra game and play the game they love,” cornerback Kyler Gordon said postgame Saturday.
The season concluding this way certainly wasn’t expected a few months ago. Back in July, UW was projected to finish second behind defending conference champion Oregon in the Pac-12 North, and perhaps even contend for a title. When the season opened in September, the Huskies were ranked No. 20. Not much has ended in the Huskies’ favor since then.
“It’s been a challenging season, that’s for sure,” interim head coach Bob Gregory said. “But, these guys — and I’ve said all along to you guys — they’re not quitting. They’re playing hard. They’re playing fast. They’re doing everything that we ask them to do. We just can’t make enough plays when we need them.”
▪ Of the 11 games the Huskies have played this season, eight — including Saturday’s loss to Colorado — have been decided by a single possession, decided in the fourth quarter or later.
UW has been on the losing end of those games more often than not, dropping losses to Montana (13-7), Oregon State (27-24), UCLA (24-17), Arizona State (35-30) and now Colorado.
The Huskies’ three wins in those situations were against California in overtime (31-24), Arizona (21-16) and Stanford (20-13).
Their only multiple-possession win so far this season was over Arkansas State (52-3) in nonconference play, while they’ve dropped multiple-possession losses to both Michigan (31-10) and then-No. 4 Oregon (26-16).
▪ UW’s losses to Oregon, Arizona State and Colorado the past three weeks marks the first time the Huskies have lost three consecutive games since 2013, when they lost to then-No. 5 Stanford, then-No. 2 Oregon and Arizona State in a three-week stretch that October.
▪ A lot went right for the Huskies’ offense against Colorado: They finished with 426 yards of total offense — their best performance in a Pac-12 game this season. They combined for 388 yards passing — also their best this season against a conference opponent. They were able to sustain long drives, only went three-and-out twice and controlled time of possession. They picked up 22 first downs and finished 15-for-23 in third- and fourth-down situations.
A lot also went wrong: Their first drive resulted in a red zone fumble on a snap that was returned for an 88-yard touchdown — it was also the first time UW failed to score this season from inside the 20. Another miscue on a snap in the second half deep in UW territory led to an immediate scoring chance for Colorado. And a pair of second half interceptions ended two more promising drives. The four turnovers were the most by the offense in a game this season, and were the difference. They also rushed for a season-low 38 yards on 1.4 yards per attempt.
▪ Dylan Morris finished 33-of-52 passing for 387 yards, two touchdowns to Rome Odunze (8 yards) and Ja’Lynn Polk (55 yards) and two interceptions. The second-year quarterback’s passing attempts, completions and yards were all single-game career highs.
He is now 287-of-473 passing for 3,355 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 15 career starts.
▪ The Huskies played two quarterbacks against Colorado, with Morris starting and graduate transfer Patrick O’Brien playing two series in the first half.
O’Brien was 1-of-3 for 1 yard on his six offensive snaps and sacked once. UW went three-and-out on both drives.
“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.”
Huard played three series against Arizona State last week, finishing 3-of-5 passing for 20 yards in his third game this season.
The five-star freshman could appear in the season finale against WSU and still keep his redshirt season.
▪ For the second consecutive week, redshirt freshman Cameron Davis led the Huskies in rushing, and was their primary running back, playing in place of sixth-year senior Sean McGrew, who has missed the past two weeks.
Davis finished with 12 carries for 29 yards and added six catches on seven targets for 58 yards. He has appeared in all 11 games, and has 85 carries for 308 yards and two touchdowns and 14 catches for 115 yards.
“My confidence has gone up a lot, just getting a lot of reps and stuff,” Davis said. “I feel like that will do that for anybody. It’s just a job that I feel like any of the backs in the room are ready for, but I feel like it’s a job that I can step up to the plate and get the job done.”
▪ Devin Culp led the Huskies in receiving against Colorado, hauling in six of his nine targets for a career-high 83 yards.
“He can be a really good football player,” Gregory said of Culp. “I think he’s got a lot of potential.”
It was the second time this season the sophomore tight end has led in receiving in a game UW was without All-Pac-12 tight end Cade Otton, who left on crutches against Arizona State last week.
Culp also led the Huskies in receiving against Cal, with five catches on six targets for 81 yards.
▪ UW’s defense held Colorado to 183 total yards of offense, 3.5 yards per play and nine first downs — all season-bests for the Huskies. They forced seven punts, and stalled eight Colorado drives in four plays or fewer. They also combined for six quarterback hits, four pass break ups and three tackles for losses, while defensive lineman Jeremiah Martin tallied his first career sack.
▪ The Apple Cup is set for 5 p.m. Friday at Husky Stadium. UW has won each of the past seven meetings — and doesn’t want to see that streak end now.
“It’s the biggest thing right here,” Gordon said. “We’re not trying to let that trophy go at all.”
This story was originally published November 21, 2021 at 6:22 PM.
