SEATTLE - Washington’s offense has spent too much of this season waiting to wake up.
Through four games, the Huskies have scored only three points in the third quarter, and that lone payoff came on a field goal against Eastern Washington on Sept. 19. The issue has shown up early and then again after halftime, leaving Washington searching for cleaner execution when the game resets.
That pattern was on display in the Huskies’ 27-24 loss to Minnesota on Sept. 26 in their Big Ten opener. Washington had four chances to build on its momentum in the third quarter and came away with just one first down across those drives. The final possession of that stretch ended with an interception.
“I think we just have to be able to execute,” Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. said in a weekly news conference Tuesday. “It just comes down to the details, the small stuff that we got to keep working on in practice.
And really just practicing execution ... we talk about that a lot. Really just going into this week of practice with that mindset and trying to put our best foot forward for this game.”
The third-quarter drought has been part of a broader theme for Washington, which has also had slow offensive starts. The Huskies opened the season with wins over Washington State and Utah State by a combined 16 points, then dropped the Minnesota game after struggling to get rolling.
The defense, meanwhile, flipped the script after halftime against the Gophers. Washington allowed 21 first-half points, then held Minnesota to only six points the rest of the way on two field goals.
The offense did finish strong. The Huskies scored 14 of their 24 points in the fourth quarter, but that late surge wasn’t enough to erase the earlier stalls.
Now comes a tougher test. Washington faces No.
18 Southern California at 4:30 p.m. PT on Saturday at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the margin for error is shrinking against a USC team that brings plenty of athleticism on offense.
“The biggest thing is just, making sure when we come out, take whatever adjustments we make at halftime,” UW wide receivers Kevin Cumming said in a news conference Tuesday. “But then, getting out there in the second half, getting yourself warmed up, getting yourself mentally in a good spot to reset for the second half.
I think (that's) the biggest thing that we're talking to our guys about. Whatever happened in the first half, whether you're up or whether you're down, really is irrelevant to what's gonna happen for the next 30 minutes of the game. ...
(Be) able to match (the opposing team's) adjustments and come out with the right energy.”
In Other News...
Washington Must Solve USCs Biggest Mismatch To Get Back On Track
Washingtons defensive staff has spent part of the week sorting through the problems USC can create, and one of the most interesting is right in the middle of the Trojans passing game. Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters singled out true freshman tight end Mark Bowman ahead of the matchup, pointing to the kind of athletic, physical presence that can force a defense to adjust in a hurry. For a Huskies group trying to steady itself, the assignment is less about name recognition and more about handling a young pass catcher who already looks like a central piece of the offense.
Bowman has emerged quickly for USC, giving the Trojans a reliable target early in his career and adding another layer to a matchup Washington cannot afford to misread. His production through five games has already shown why he draws so much attention, but the bigger issue for the Huskies is what he can do when defenses start keying on him and still have to account for the rest of USCs skill talent. If Washington is going to get back on track, this is the kind of mismatch it has to solve before it turns into a long night. [Read more 🡒]
Former Huskies Playmaker Suddenly Has An NFL Opportunity Again
Dante Pettis is back in the league mix after earning a tryout with the San Francisco 49ers and landing on their practice squad. For Washington fans, it is another reminder of how much talent the former Huskies playmaker carried into the NFL, where he has moved through several teams since the 49ers first drafted him in 2018.
The timing gives Pettis a real chance to push for more than just a holding pattern on the scout squad. San Francisco could still elevate him to the 53-man roster for an upcoming game against the Denver Broncos, which would put him one step closer to getting meaningful snaps again and another chance to carve out a role. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Could Get A Crucial Veteran Boost Very Soon
Washingtons defensive front could be in line for a timely veteran addition, with Taitai Uiagalelei still waiting on a court ruling that will determine whether he can return for a fifth year. The Huskies defensive tackle spent one season in Seattle after three years at Arizona and became a steady presence up front, giving the staff an experienced piece to build around as the season moves along.
Uiagaleleis case is tied to a legal injunction involving NCAA eligibility rule changes, so the decision sits outside the usual football calendar and leaves his status unresolved for now. For Washington, the appeal is obvious: a proven interior defender with a year in the program already under his belt could give the Huskies a much-needed boost, if the ruling eventually goes their way. [Read more 🡒]