Washington’s 48-16 win over Eastern Washington came with more than just points on the board. It also brought a clearer picture of where the Huskies are growing, where they still have work to do, and which players were eager to talk about both.
For Demond Williams, the tone was simple: start fast, settle in, and let the offense breathe. That approach paid off early, and he said it changed the feel of the game once Washington began clicking in the first half.
"It felt good. Going into this game, it was all about starting fast. Once we got that out of the way and were able to click throughout the first half, really the rest of the game, it felt really good."
Williams also made it clear that the offense needed a game like this in the bank, especially with Big Ten play ahead.
"I mean definitely. Obviously, I feel like really any side of the ball, offense, defense, really doesn't matter, but having a good game to have under your belt, especially before Big Ten play, is super important for us, our confidence, and going into the season strong."
A big part of that rhythm came from Rashid Williams, who turned in a strong response after being limited by injury last week. He said the week leading up to Saturday was all about treatment and recovery.
"It was a day-by-day type of injury, and after I got hurt a little in that last game, I just attacked treatment really hard and was able to come back and play tonight."
On the field, that work showed up in the form of two touchdown catches. Demond Williams had nothing but praise for him.
"He's a baller. If you were at practices or you've been around the program for a couple of years now, you'd know that he does it on a daily basis.
He makes those types of plays. So for me, it's just putting the ball in his vicinity and letting him go be himself."
The same was true for Washington’s younger receivers, who continued to flash as the season moves along. Williams pointed to the way that group has settled in.
"I think you just see it from week one to even now, just how comfortable they are and how in themselves they are, especially guys like Brian Bonner, too. Seeing them go out there and just be themselves, having fun, playing the game that they love, and then also make some big-time plays."
He also highlighted Mason James, who gives the offense another burst of speed.
"The kid is just so explosive, so fast, and he always tells me when he gets the ball, he has a chance of going to the crib. So, it's just great to see it, great to see guys like him be able to come in the third quarter and work in with the ones and things like that and understand how to get open, how to make plays."
Williams said the offense’s emphasis during the week was centered on one thing: attacking the day and coming out with energy.
"I really just think starting fast every day. Everybody had the same mindset when we got on the practice field, understanding what our goal is at practice, what we're trying to get out of it, and just attacking the day."
He also said the group has adapted well with John Mills out at left tackle.
"I think it's a small change that you can just tell within the offensive group, but I feel like regardless of who we have in the front, we have a lot of good guys, especially seven, eight deep in that O-line rotation, and you love to see the ability to transition to play other positions and still be very effective."
On the other side of the ball, Alex McLaughlin said Eastern Washington’s quarterback created problems with his ability to extend plays, but Washington’s bigger issue was execution.
"Yeah, he was a good scrambler. We knew that coming into today, and we knew he was a good football player and would extend plays, but yeah.
I think just some bad angles on our part from me, too. So I think just being more disciplined and just doing our job would help us there."
McLaughlin also said he wanted to finish the job on a near interception.
"Yeah, I got to come up with the football. Everyone's saying good play to me, but I need to catch the football and make it a great play. So I think just the expectation I have of myself is that I need to come down with that football."
Asked whether he expected Eastern Washington to have as much success as it did, he admitted the Huskies were caught a little off guard.
"I was a little surprised. I think they're a good football team.
They're well-coached over there, and that quarterback made some great plays over there, and they had a good scheme for us. I think it's really on us, though, just being more disciplined and just doing our job."
He said halftime adjustments came down to sharper eyes and fewer players trying to do too much.
"I think it was just bad eyes. Coach Walters brought us in at halftime.
Just too many guys trying to make too many plays, myself included. So I think just doing our 1/11 will help us a ton."
Baron Naone was part of the tight end group that helped Washington keep the offense moving, and he said the chemistry among that room has been built on time together.
"It's great. We're together every day, the three of us spend a lot of time outside of the facility with each other, and we just try to keep the whole room as close as we can, because with the whole team being so close and how we are so close just with being with each other for so long every day, we can make plays like those plays and just have trust in each other that we're all gonna do our own job. And if everybody does their job and executes the play, no one can stop us."
Williams even joked that he planned to remind Naone about getting into the end zone.
"Yeah, I'm sure he'll talk to me right after he's done (being interviewed)."
"He'll probably just say, ' Pick my legs up when I feel a guy tackling me at the half-yard line, but Demond's a great dude."
In Other News...
Washingtons 3-0 Start Comes With A Defensive Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Washington wrapped up its nonconference slate at 3-0 after a 48-16 win over Eastern Washington, but the first stretch of the season came with a familiar kind of concern on the defensive side. The Huskies have shown enough to head into Big Ten play unbeaten, yet the penalties have been hard to miss, and head coach Jedd Fisch along with linebacker Jacob Manu both pointed to discipline as a priority moving forward.
The latest game underscored the issue again, with eight penalties for 101 yards helping turn an otherwise comfortable result into a reminder that cleaner football is still needed. For a defense about to face a tougher league schedule, the margin for error will shrink quickly, and Washington cant afford to keep putting itself behind the sticks or giving opponents extra chances. [Read more 🡒]
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The coaching subplot gives the matchup even more weight. Lincoln Riley and Jedd Fisch have crossed paths before, and Washington has been a particularly stubborn problem for USC in recent seasons, adding another layer to a series the Trojans still trail historically. With that backdrop, this one feels like more than a conference date on the calendar, especially with each side carrying plenty into early October. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Still Has One Big Problem After Its Get-Right Win
Washingtons 48-16 win over Eastern Washington offered the kind of clean offensive response the Huskies needed, with the attack looking sharper and younger playmakers helping drive the first-half surge. Washington scored on nearly every drive before halftime, and the growth was visible in the way the offense spread the ball around and kept the pressure on after an uneven start to the season.
The concern, though, was hard to miss even in a comfortable victory. Washingtons defense piled up too many mistakes, getting flagged for seven of the teams eight penalties and spending too much time under a cloud of pass interference calls, ejections and other discipline issues. For a team trying to build momentum, the improved offense was encouraging, but the ongoing penalty problems left a much bigger question hanging over the result. [Read more 🡒]